Avengers Disassembled Chapter 9: Jewellry, an avengers fanfic

Thank you for the reviews :) I hope you like this! It's a bit of a break from the missions and dramas. This is a very big chapter. I'm really sorry about the late update but I wanted to make sure that this was okay!

A week had gone by and the 'Missing persons case' had gone far. Sam was brought in on it, as he has been tracing Bucky as well apparently, so he has been helpful when searching for Ward. We have been searching all security feeds from the day he was seen leaving the Ink Print Industries building and have traced him back to the building that we set fire to the other week. However, we also traced him to another building in San Francisco that we are investigating tomorrow. Over the past couple of days, the team has been doing miniature missions too.

Flashback through to present day

"I can't believe we are doing this now." Clint said, huffing.

"We're doing this instead of finding James and Grant. We needed a break and there is nothing that we can do to help. If something important flags up then they shall report to us about it." I told Clint. "Now, what are you thinking?"

"What's her favourite colour?" Clint asked.

"Blue." I replied, as we walked down the street.

"Any hobbies?"

"I know that she likes swimming and tennis, as well as shopping. That is her favourite."

"Anything she doesn't like?"

"Time wasters." I replied, smirking.

"I think I might get her some blue earrings. I noticed that her earring stand only had a few on."

"You really do have Hawk eyes."

"Thanks." he smiled.

"Jewellery is the safe option for gift buying. At least you didn't say something like a video game. She despises them too."

"So what are you going to get her?"

"I don't know. I don't really know her that well."

He raised his eyebrows at me. "You're kidding me? You just listed about her hobbies, favourite colour, etc. I bet you know more about her than Tony does."

"I wouldn't know what to buy her." I said, honestly. Out of all of the gifts, what would I get her? Sentimentality isn't my thing.

"Think about something personal." he said, almost reading my mind. I looked at him, as if to say 'really?'

"I'm not really a personal person." I replied truthfully. We continued walking down the streets of New York, looking for any gift shop or anything that looks interesting.

"Surely you've had moments with her?" he asked me.

"Not really." I said, lying to myself. We've chatted many times. There was one thing that she did need and it wasn't a weapon. "I have an idea, but you promise you won't tell anyone."

"I promise." he said, seriously. He looked deep into my eyes, into my soul, and made me feel nervous for a moment. He really sounded like he meant it.

"Lets go." I said, turning left down an alleyway to the shop.

"Pandora?" Clint asked. "You were talking to me about it being a safe option for gift buying and now you're getting her the same thing."

"This is different." I said to him.

"Okay." he said, believing me.

We walked into the store and a smiley woman came up to me. "Hello, what can I do for you?"

"I would like to buy a bracelet." I said simply.

"Okay, is this a gift for a friend or for yourself?"

"It's a gift for a colleage."

"A friend." Clint corrected, smirking at me.

"Hang on...are you Hawkeye?" the lady asked, whilst getting the bracelet, smirking at him as she did.

"Yeah. I am. We're Black Widow and Hawkeye, but don't tell anyone." he said, smiling at her.

"Don't worry." she said to Clint. "Your secrets safe with me." She turned back to me, her smiling drooping slightly.

"So what sized wrist is she?" she asked, her fake smile returning.

"Small." I said and Clint whispered "More like extra small." I smirked, laughing slightly and the woman looked at me, irritated.

"What style?" she asked, trying to get the attention back to her, I bet. So what if Clint pays attention to me...

"I would like a plain silver plated bracelet please with one charm."

"And what charm would you like?"

I smiled. "A silver ice cream please."

"An ice cream?" she asked. "Bit childish for your age, isn't it?"

"Who doesn't love ice cream right?" Clint asked, smirking at me.

"Chocolate is my favourite." the shop assistant said, smiling. What a change of heart...

"Cookie dough all the way." Clint said, smirking. "Yours too right Tash?" I nodded and smirked at him. I knew that it was just part of Clint's acting skills, because he wanted the assistant to stop flirting with him.

"Oh I forgot about that one. Ben and Jerry's is the best." she agreed, conveniently, putting the ice cream charm on the chain. She placed the bracelet in a box and gave it to me in a bag. "That will be one hundred and sixty pounds please."

I gave the lady my card and she put it into the machine. "Just type in your PIN number and press enter please." I followed the orders that she said and put in my PIN. I heard Clint's text tone sound as I pressed ENTER on the machine and gave it back to her. "Any news?" I asked him.

"Bruce just messaged me about tonight." Clint said, sighing that it wasn't bad news. "Pepper still doesn't know about it, so if you see her don't say anything. Also, he says that the venue is on the top floor, below the rooftop."

"Nice location."

"Stark tower huh?" the assistant said, passing me the bag. "I wish I could go up there." she said, but even though she was flirting with Clint she meant it in a truthful sense. "All the power that he has, his life is just one big plate served to him with no cost. He acts like another version of Thor, but he has no real power at all. He just has money." she said, staring into space. She snapped her head to us. "The rest of us have to earn our money. It's not given to us on a silver plate."

"You don't think that we have to earn? I started off in the circus." Clint said.

"You think that's funny?" she asked, sneering at him, changing her attitude towards him.

"No, he really did. He started off in the circus with his brother Barney and then some stuff went down…" I said, not trying to go into too much detail about it all. "Then he joined S.H.I.E.L.D and became an Avenger. Lots of hard work, probably the one who works the hardest out of all of us. He's human just like you, but works harder than any of the others." I said and picked up the shopping bag. "Thank you for your service." I said and strutted out of the store.

Clint came after me and I didn't care whether he said goodbye to the tart or not. "I can't believe you said that."

"What?" I asked. "I usually kick ass. This time it was with words rather than fists because I don't want to be arrested. Like they could even try."

"I mean, I can't believe you just told her all that stuff."

"Did I say too much?" I asked, worrying that I had hurt him.

"No, no. It was fine what you said. I can't believe you said that I work harder than everyone else."

"Well, you do work harder than all of us." I explained as we started walking back towards the car that would take us back to the tower. "I think it is easier for the others to train and for me to train, because I have the serum in me and the others are Gods and super soldiers. Tony doesn't have to train and Bruce doesn't need to either. He has an already built six pack with his suit. So technically, out of everyone, you work the hardest."

"I have to, I'm human." he argued. "Anyway, what's the time?"

"15:30."

"And what time do we have to be at the party again?"

I looked sideways at him. "I swear to God you forget everything that I tell you."

"I know I do." he smiled at me. "Anyway, what time does it start and finish?"

"It starts at 8 and finished at 2 in the morning. Before the party starts, Tony is taking Pepper out for dinner, so that she doesn't suspect anything."

"Awesome." Clint replied. "So what are we going to do for the next couple of hours?"

"Train, shower, get ready?"

"Those were my thoughts exactly."

"You training alone today or both of us together? Sparring?"

"Sounds good." he replied, smiling. We walked in a comfortable silence for a couple of minutes, before he asked "Do you know what the others have got her?"

"I have no idea who has got her presents apart from Bruce, Thor and Tony. Bruce has got her some form of handy science self-cleaning gadget, Thor has gotten her a present from Asgard and then Tony has got her something like a car."

"Wow. I wonder how much that cost him."

"A small fraction of what he earns I am sure." I said.

"I would not even be able to buy my girlfriend chocolate when it came round to her birthday and on top of that I would probably forget or I would have a Facebook reminder halfway through the day."

"I am sure you would be a very realiable boyfriend."

"We could test that theory one day." he said, smirking and raising his eyebrows.

"Shut it Barton." I said, stoically. "Having a girlfriend for you would be breaking the rules."

"Coulson has a wife...or had a wife."

"Yes, but she wasn't a S.H.I.E.L.D agent. She was outside of S.H.I.E.L.D. She was a cellist for Christ sake. Can you imagine me dating a musician?"

"I can't imagine you dating anyone."

"That's because I won't be." I said, sternly.

"Never say never." he said to me. We got back to the car and drove back to the tower, stopping only to get a coffee. I swear Clint cannot get five minutes without a coffee. By the time that we got to the tower, it was already 17:08.

"JARVIS, where is Pepper?"

"Pepper is on the rooftop." he replied.

"Can you tell me when she is a room away or twenty metres?"

"Of course, Miss Romanoff. Is this until the party starts I am assuming?" he asked, catching on. JARVIS was very intelligent.

"Yes please." I said and exited the elevator with Clint.

"I am going to go and get changed now. I will meet you in the gym in half an hour?" Clint asked.

"Sure." I replied and walked down the corridor of rooms to my bedroom. Clint went into his and then I opened mine. I always made sure that he was okay first, but I do not know why. Maybe as insurance that he was alright. He always gets into trouble, even if he is only a metre away from his room.

I put the bag, containing Pepper's present in one of my drawers, and proceeded to put on my suit. I never felt at home anywhere, but in my suit fighting alongside Clint, I did. The other Avengers were a comfort on the battlefield, because I know that they have my back and have the skills to defend me properly.

Going down to the training room, I noticed Maria and Steve talking on the balcony. They seemed to be having some kind of domestic. Maria looked very angry and Steve looked like a turtle cowering back in its shell.

Steve noticed me and Maria turned her head in the direction of eyes. I saw her mouth 'just give me a but of space.'

He nodded and exited from the balcony. He looked at me, tears threatening to fall from his eyes, and I asked "Steve, what's wrong?"

"I...I can't." He said, quickly walking out of the room crying. I looked at where Maria was stood at the balcony looking out at New York. I stormed to the balcony door and opened it.

"What the hell are you doing?" I asked. Maria was a good friend, but Steve meant something to me as well. He was my partner during his problems with Barnes and I always got along with him. I understand how to take orders and stand with them, but to do the right thing. I think he is a brilliant leader.

"Something happened on a mission we did last week."

"Something?" I asked, trying to get her to go straight to the point.

"He tried to kiss me on a mission." she said, hitting the nail on the head. She rubbed her hands together and pressed her lips.

"Tired to? Implying that you stopped him or he was really shit at it?"

"No, I tried to stop him."

"Why?" I asked, confused. "You've been crazy about him for weeks."

"It wasn't appropriate. We were on a mission and we should have been focused on that."

"I need some kind of scene here to figure out whether you are being over-dramatic or not."

"So we were doing a small mission, taking down a HYDRA base, and we were hiding in a cupboard about to make our attack. I was re-loading my weapons and just as I was about to leave, but I tripped. He caught me and I was just in his arms. He slowly pulled me up to stand, but held me really close and he was going to kiss me, so I just..." she said, pushing herself off the rails. "pushed him away from me."

"Why would you do that?"

"I was thinking about staying there, but I just thought about the mission. My mind should not be emotionless. I'm called Agent Chill for Christ sakes. I'm called it for a reason."

"I know, but you can change. Rogers can help you." I said, trying to persuade her to change her mind. "You deserve someone like him. You've already been on a date with him. You've kissed him before."

She looked up at me, frozen, and then down at the floor. "You have kissed him right?" I asked.

"Well...he kissed me on the cheek."

"The cheek?" I asked. "That is probably the biggest step he has taken in life. He is definitely a virgin."

"Shush!" she said, smirking. "But seriously...I just want to be with him, but sometimes I think, because of who I am, I can't."

"You can." I said and rubbed her shoulder. "You will be." I smirked and she laughed slightly. I walked out and Clint was waiting for me outside of the door.

"What was all that about? he asked.

"Girl stuff." I replied, trying not to give too much away.

"Maria wants to be with Cap, but she thinks her lifestyle choices and persona make her not want to show any of her emotions."

"How did you know?"

"I heard the last bit and made my own assumptions. You guys usually talk about girl stuff?" he asked, pressing the elevator button.

"She doesn't like to. It's more like she needs to, because she doesn't have another choice. Her feelings for Cap are very...mixed. She wants to keep her persona, but she also wants to let him into her life. I don't have that problem." I said, as the elevator opened. We both climbed in and he looked at me curiously.

"You don't?" he asked.

"Nope. No emotional attachments for me." I said. I heard him sigh slightly, but I just ignored it. We got down to the changing room and stretched and warmed up before we began to spar with each other. The punching, kicking and knife throwing went on for about fourty minutes until Clint said it might be good if we stop before we go and get ready.

"You think that Pepper will like my present?" Clint asked me, sipping his water.

"Of course she will. Even if she didn't she wouldn't say."

He chuckled and smiled. "Thanks." he said sarcastically. "That makes me feel like my present is going to be really appreciated by Ginny."

"I'm sure she will love it." I said, smiling. I looked at him, whilst he wiped the top of his forehead with the bottom of his shirt, revealing his gorgeous set of muscles. I could hear my breathing get a little quicker and subconsciously bit my lip.

"Liking what you see?" he asked. I released my lip and he stepped towards me, pressing his chest against mine. "You think about me a lot?" he smiled.

"You occasionally pop into my mind, only to remind me that your useless arrows are the only thing keeping you alive."

"You keep me alive." he said, pouring passion into his words. "And they are not useless. My arrows shoot straight." he smirked.

"I'm not sure i'm the only thing that supports your existence." I replied, smiling, and turning my head slightly, his breath brushing the side of my cheek.

"Believe me you are." he whispered, his hands touching my hips. I stared into his eyes and my palm pressed against his chest. "You are the only thing I live for." he said.

"Just me?" I asked.

"Just you." he replied and kissed my cheek slowly. As he pulled away, I felt his breath sweep across my cheek and his arms loosen slightly. "See you at the party." he said, smiling, and brushed past me, tracing his hand over my stomach as he left.

I stayed in the same place as he left me. As soon as I heard the elevator doors close, I breathed out a shuddery breath and dropped onto my knees. What just happened? I thought, but quickly regained my mind and stood up slowly. The only thing that you can do is get ready for tonight so leave and do that. Take your mind off it. I walked over to the elevator, forgetting my moment of emotional weakness, and got in it. The ride up was silent and I couldn't bear it so I asked JARVIS a pointless question. "JARVIS, where is everyone?"

"There are guests waiting in the lounge area. Mr. Stark and Miss Potts are out in a restaurant. Steve, James, Sam, Maria and Jane are in the kitchen. Thor and Bruce are on the balcony. Mr. Barton is in his room getting ready.."

"Thank you JARVIS." I said, as the elevator doors opened. I walked out and everybody looked at me, their happy faces faltering slightly when they realised that it wasn't Pepper and Stark. I rolled my eyes and walked through the crowed, my body not smelling of sweat, because it isn't in my nature to.

"Widow, you going to get dressed now?" Falcon asked, running out of the kitchen to see me.

"Yes, I'm a pretty quick dresser. Also, they're not here for another hour."

"I know, but people got here early just in case." he said, casually, but got distracted by a blonde walking past behind me.

I looked at her as she smiled at him and he returned the smile. He turned back to me and said "Sorry, how are you?"

"Good." I said. "Now go after her." I ordered and walked away as he smiled at me before putting on his "game face" as he likes to call it and darting after the girl.

As I walked down the corridor, I thought about going into Clint's room and talk about what happened in the training room, but I decided against it assuming that he was in the shower.

Once I was in my room, I showered, got changed into a strapless bra and black underwear and then walked across the room, once my body and short red hair were dry, which didn't take very long. I straightened it quickly, so it didn't go curly. Then I opened my wardrobe and saw the dress. Red strapless with lace around the bodice. Nobody has seen this dress yet because I have never worn it...until tonight. I purchased it a couple of days ago, with some left over S.H.I.E.L.D money, specifically for Pepper's birthday party. I saw it in the shop and I would've fallen in love with it if it were possible for me to do that.

I lifted up the hanger and ran my hand over the material, appreciating the work that was put into creating such a brilliant design. It was a four thousand dollar design, but still, it was worth it. I unzipped the back and easily pulled the dress up my body, zipping it back up once it was in place. It fitted perfectly and I made a reminder in my head to go and purchase more clothes from the shop.

Walking over to my desk, I looked over the selection of necklaces and earrings I had. Deciding against the necklaces, I picked up some small red stud earrings and attached them to my ears, making sure not to aggravate my ear lobe. That is not an attractive look, not that it would matter because I could get my hair to cover them if I really wanted to.

I looked at myself in the mirror once I had slipped on my black heels. I am beautiful. I wasn't being vain about it, it's true. The serum they injected us with contained a chemical that advances your beauty somehow. It's good that the formula never reached the public or the press.

Tonight, however, was one of the most important nights of the year - Virginia Potts' birthday. Tony said that the only day above it was his own birthday. I took a long time selecting Pepper's birthday present. It's very difficult to know what to get your best friend, even though you know hardly anything about her. I confidently walked out of my door, collecting the present on the way out, and shut it behind me. Show time I thought as I neared the entrance to the living room.

Hope you liked this huge chapter! Thank you for review! Keep it up :)