Author's Note: Here's the (short) wrap-up.
From the time Nick Fury recruited Clint and Natasha as the final two Avengers, things began moving quickly. Even though only five people in the world knew about the new assignment, there grew a strange sense of urgency behind everything the two did.
The Avengers Initiative was technically out of commission. But those five people that were aware of its stealthy resurrection knew that Fury and the World Security Council were often at odds.
Fury assured Clint and Natasha that the days of STRIKE Team Delta were not over, and that their operations would simply take a different form. But even that started with them being given separate assignments.
So Clint arrived at the back of an open Quinjet the next day, bow and backpack in tow again, a thick jacket still failing to erase the cold even though it was nearly noon. Natasha and Coulson were waiting for him at the base of the ramp.
Clint faced Coulson. "What are you doing out here?"
"Captain Rogers is in good hands. Also, Fury told me that if I didn't find something else to do, he would assign me to KP until further notice." Coulson paused. "Which he did. But in the meantime, Hill told me to find you."
Clint hid a grin. Sometimes he was really proud he worked for Fury.
He eyed the tablet Coulson held. "Should I be taking notes?"
"No. This is for me. All of your assignment intel is on the drive Natasha gave you." Coulson looked him up and down. "Which you have with you, I trust?"
"Yes, sir." Clint patted his vest pocket.
"Good. Do your reading en route. By the time you're on the ground, you'll need to know everything there is to know."
"Half of it's scientific jargon," Natasha put in.
"Fury thought you could make use of it." Coulson straightened. "Anyway, Hill said the boss's orders are to watch everything. Keep an eye on communications. There are profiles on all the scientists and agents assigned to the Mission Facility, and summaries of the research that's being done. You'll be informed of any newcomers, so anyone in our out you don't recognize needs to be detained immediately. Got it?"
"Yeah. What does Fury want with any prisoners? Pick up the Cube and throw 'em to the other end of space?"
"No, just alert command. There's a holding area." Coulson paused. "As much as throwing them into space sounds right up your alley."
Clint grinned. "Understood, sir."
Coulson turned to Natasha. "Wheels up at 0400 tomorrow, Romanoff. Quinjet Five." To Clint he said, "Enjoy Nevada." And with that, he turned on his heel and walked back toward the shoveled-out path leading to the base entrance.
Natasha faced her partner. "Nevada, huh?"
"Yeah. Where are you going?"
"Russia."
"Sounds fun."
"At least you'll be rid of the snow and ice."
"You know how I love snow and ice." The joke was dry, just the way he liked it.
Natasha flashed him a devious smile. "Remember that time Coulson bet you a dollar you couldn't hit that practice target in Greenland from under the water?"
"For the record, I was drunk."
"Unbelievably drunk." Her grin broadened. "Hill was livid."
"Yeah, she was." Clint returned the grin. "But I hit the target."
"Lucky shot."
The Quinjet pilot approached Clint, staying back a few feet. "Ready up here, Agent Barton," he reported.
"Thanks, Jonas." Clint waited for the junior agent to walk back around to the cockpit and then returned his gaze to his friend. "No getting yourself killed out there, okay?"
"Wouldn't dream of it. Just remember...that policy goes both ways."
"Yes, ma'am." He walked up the ramp and then smiled once more. "See you around, Nat."
The ramp closed. The lights in the Quinjet flickered on, and then the thrusters fired and the jet pulled away, and in moments he was leaving the clear white landscape of the Arctic behind.
He fingered the drive in his pocket and pulled out a tablet. He didn't know what he was in for at the Mission Facility, but he might as well start learning. One thing he knew: Nat was right.
The world was definitely changing.
END
Author's Note: We leave off almost exactly where The Avengers begins: both members of STRIKE Team Delta have been assigned to the missions they are on at the beginning of the movie. I wish Marvel had given us something like this with these two characters before the movie, but it is what it is.
I am also currently working on a more detailed backstory/Budapest piece featuring Black Widow and Hawkeye, so if you're interested, stay tuned.
I'd love to hear any feedback you guys have!
