The operation would be two fold. Natasha would talk her way into a charity event that evening and make contact with the suspect. He was a particularly nasty piece of work, a mafia don affectionately known as The Butcher, real name Alberto Piccota. Intelligence had it that he was supplying arms to rebel insurgents for a very health profit. Natasha needed to find out when the next shipment was due and what was on board, by any means possible. In the meantime Clint would wait until it was time to take out Piccota's suspected arms supplier, Andor Barta. He was a man also well known to S.H.I.E.L.D who was suspected to be heavily involved in organised crime, murder, and trafficking. It was time for the Hungarian to meet his maker and the only thing currently preventing an arrow through his heart was the suspicion that he was involved with Piccota.

'The blue... it's the same colour as her eyes'

Such a simple statement, but Hannah Foster kept turning it over in her head. It wasn't what Hawkeye had said, but rather how he'd said it. Coulson hadn't even had time to answer for himself before Clint had jumped in to choose Agent Romanoff's dress. It also proved that Barton was keeping a close ear on the Russian spy.

Foster had detected a certain coolness in Clint's manner towards her since they'd made contact in Budapest, but, she told herself, it was because he was working, not because the kiss was a mistake.

There was gentleness in the way he spoke about Natasha Romanoff that made her uneasy. In fact everything about the Black Widow made Foster uncomfortable, not least the way she obtained her information. Surely Agent Barton must know what the Russian was rumoured to do to get what she wanted? The widow put men under a spell until they told her everything, perhaps Agent Barton was also bewitched?

Hannah nibbled her fingernail as she thought over the problem.

'Nothing we can do now until Natasha checks in, may as well make ourselves comfortable.' Coulson said cheerfully, interrupting her thoughts. They were using a local hotel room as their base of operations. Picking up a newspaper, Coulson sat in one of the room's wing backed chairs.

'Perhaps we should check in with Agent Barton?' Foster asked the hope in her voice painfully obvious. 'He might be glad of the company?'

Coulson shook his head. 'Judging by the mood Barton's in at the moment, I would suggest leaving well alone. If he wants us, he'll call in.'

'Do you think something happened with Agent Romanoff?' The blonde asked.

'I'm not sure if it's easier when they are fighting or flirting.' Coulson replied good naturedly as he opened the newspaper.

Coulson eyed the young woman coolly over the top of the broadsheet. He'd been as surprised as anyone when the blonde had kissed Barton. The look on the archer's face had been a picture, not to mention the reaction from Natasha. Fortunately for Foster, the Black Widow's anger seemed to have been redirected somewhere over the Pacific, and judging by Barton's current humour, it had gone his way.

Coulson didn't want to know what had gone on between the two agents as long as it didn't affect the mission. They would sort it out between them, they always did. Foster on the other hand could possibly do with a gentle steer in the right direction.

'I suppose Agents who work closely together will clash sometimes?' She asked doggedly.

Rolling his eyes the older agent agreed. 'It's a very intense relationship.'

'A working relationship?' Hannah asked.

'I really wouldn't know.' He said smiling in a way that suggested otherwise.

'But they fight and argue all the time, you said so yourself.'

'Oh yes.' Coulson agreed, 'I sometimes think if it wasn't for the job, they would be killing each other.' before adding pointedly, 'although I certainly wouldn't want to be in the shoes of anyone who ever tries to get between them.'

Strolling into her own hotel room the next morning, Natasha slipped off her high heels and stretched. It had been a long night but Piccota had been like putty in her hands. He readily confirmed what they suspected, and now Barta could be taken out once the shipment had been received later that day. She would need to report in to Coulson as she hadn't been able to use the com system all night. Clint might even have stopped sulking, she really needed to speak to him. She'd played his rebuke over in her head, and it was obvious that she was going to have to be the one to take the first step. Clint would never push her, or ask for something she wasn't prepared to give, so she would have to let him know she was ready for something more. But first she needed to wash the smell of Italian mobster from her body.

'Any news from Natasha?' Barton's voice crackled over the coms.

'Good morning Agent Barton.' Hannah said brightly. Hawkeye ignored the greeting.

'You know perfectly well there isn't, since you've been waiting for her to call in.' Coulson said patiently.

'How are you?' Foster tried again.

'Considering I spent the night on a roof in the rain like a gargoyle, I'm unsurprisingly damp, cramped and cold. How was the cosy hotel room?' Barton said coolly.

Hannah couldn't quite hide the hurt look that crept across her face.

'Very pleasant actually.' Coulson cut in. 'We have croissants... I see you're going to be a little ray of sunshine again today?'

Whatever Barton said in response was cut short at Natasha's voice came over the coms.

'Coulson?'

'Natasha. What's the story?'

'As we suspected. The handover is at three this afternoon at Barta's.'

'Excellent so it's a go.' Coulson confirmed to both agents.

'The blue dress obviously did the trick.' Hannah said snippily under her breath.

'It was a late night.' Natasha continued. 'Barton can probably stand down and get some rest. Piccota can't hold his vodka so nothing will be happening before zero hour and I doubt Barta will risk anything in the meantime that will interfere with this shipment. I could use a few hours sleep myself unless I can find someone to join me for breakfast?'

Natasha fully expected some comment from her partner, but clearly a night on surveillance had done nothing to improve his temper. If he was going to be childish then she would have to raise the bait.

'Oh and I will be staying on a little at the end of the mission Coulson.' She said conversationally.

There was silence at the other end as Coulson tried to process her sudden random train of thought. 'O.K?' He said simply. 'Any particular reason?'

'I've always thought it a wonderful city; in fact, there's a rain check I'm looking to cash in while I'm here?'

Natasha smiled to herself as she imagined Barton processing that particular piece of information. There was silence from the handler for quite some time.

'Is there something I should know?' Coulson eventually said wearily.

There had clearly been some reaction at the other end.

'Nothing you need to worry about Agent Coulson.' She said with a grin as she clicked the magazine into her pistol. 'I'll be handling it personally.'