Chapter 2

When I'm ready, I grab my bow and quiver and get as close to her as I dare. On the roof of the building opposite hers, I notch an arrow and aim it through the window right at her. I'm about to release it when she turns around and looks me dead in the eye. I hear the sound of a gun safety being removed, meaning there's no way she could have missed it.

Fear shining in her eyes, she gives me a slight, stiff nod, standing tall, resigned in the knowledge that she will die. She has exactly two choices; get killed by me, or whoever is behind her. And now? What do I do now?

I pull the bowstring back to my ear and wait. The moment the door behind her opens, I release my arrow, and then shoot two more in quick succession. All three of her assailants are dead before they hit the ground.

But the Widow hadn't even flinched. Then her gun is out of her thigh holster aimed straight at me. So then this was how my death would come? I can accept this as a good way to go.

She pulls the trigger, but the bullets don't even graze me. I turn around to find two bodies dressed in the same tactical gear as the ones behind her.

I don't need to inspect the three I had killed to know they also have a three headed snake insignia on their clothes.

Hydra? I sign at her, not willing to shout and give away my status to anyone else yet. She raises her hand, knocking the air twice, Yes. Huh, and I thought the agency had crumbled completely when Captain America hit the ice.

You with me? I sign again. She knocks twice, but keeps signing, If you kill me after… there's worse ways to go. I shake my head at her, holding my open hand up before closing my fingers like a duck closing its beak. No, I'm not going to kill her.

Meet downstairs I sign, before turning and heading down. We both leave our respective buildings simultaneously. Before one of us gets to say anything though, we get fired at and have to dive for cover.

Taking cover behind a car, I start shooting down snipers with my gun. Arrows might be cool and useful for tight corners, but guns are faster and I'm not stupid. A group of them situated on one roof is tag-teaming though.

I need a second to screw on one of my trick arrow heads, the one equipped with a grenade, so I can take care of the bloody annoyance. But then the ground team will have my ass served on a platter.

And then she's there, right beside me, covering me while I screw on the head. "You know, this isn't where I thought I would find myself when I came to Budapest," she says, shooting down a few sneaky bastards that had previously been edging around the car.

"Yeah," I mutter, finally able to notch the arrow, "What were you expecting, hot tourists and sandy beaches?" But some of my sarcasm gets lost as I edge around the car to let my arrow fly.

She raises an eyebrow. An explosion goes off, letting me know the bloody watchdogs have been dealt with. "A hot new coffin inside a nice sandy grave," she softly answers my rhetorical question, then goes back to shooting the cocky ones that get too close.

I smile then, happy I didn't kill her despite all the shit Fury is bound to give me. So I take a breath, notch another arrow, and start picking off strays.

We fall into an easy rhythm, covering the other when one has to reload. We both decide it's time to wrap this up quickly when I run out of arrows.

When the fight is over, I collect my arrows, inspecting them, and then sorting them into groups depending on their level of damage.

I expected her to run by the time I'm finally done. But she's still there, watching me closely. "You saved me, why?" she asks, sounding confused. "You wanted to die. For some reason, I couldn't let you," I tell her honestly.

"I don't want to die," she snaps. I raise an eyebrow, "And I didn't save you," I say sarcastically. She opens her mouth to argue, but I continue before she decides to kill me after all, "Let me rephrase then; you were okay with me killing you and I wasn't. You're asking me why I wasn't, right?" She nods her head. "For many reasons, one of them being that you remind me of someone… myself actually, before my handler found me."

I don't elaborate. Going back to my safe house, I grab what I need and leave the rest for S.H.I.E.L.D. to clean up.

She seems in thought for a while. "I would like to speak to Fury," she doesn't ask. She orders me. "Excuse me?" her knowing my boss doesn't come as much of a surprise. Her actually wanting to see Fury? That does.

"I might be interested in a job offer." Well then. I raise my eyebrows.

She seems to deflate a little. "Look, I kind of turned my back on my employers. I've been running from them ever since. And killing the rookies they send after me isn't keeping them off my back anymore. Having some back up, being part of an agency they fear? Well, it would give me some space to breathe. And I have an offer Fury won't refuse."

When I look like I might question her further, she raises an eyebrow, "The way I see it you got a choice. Either bring me in or put me down, but don't let them be the ones who get me," she seems to lose that iron grip over her emotions for a second, allowing me to see the raw terror she has for her old employers.

And that decided it. I took her in to S.H.I.E.L.D. and whatever her offer was, Fury allowed her to stay.

But of course he would punish me for not following orders… again. She would be my partner once her training was complete. At least I managed to complete my mission, even if it wasn't to the letter.