Revamped!
Old Arc Title - Spies on a Sub
Copyright - Avengers Assemble (Marvel Animations)
Chapter 26: The Secret World of Espionage Part One
Present Day - Location Classified - 23:42 PM
Merida sits on a chair with the back of the object on her chest, pretty lax for an agent facing one of her superior also known as the hard-ass debriefing head, Agent Tapper, while in the middle of a debriefing. Upper years warned her about him and, boy, were they accurate. Her arms are crossed and her fingers on one hand tap on her elbow since these sessions know how to test her patience.
Agent Mike Tapper: Agent Barton, I want to remind you that you are under oath.
"Look," Merida says, standing up from her chair. "Let's cut the crap, Sir. I know what I did and I know why I'm being held responsible. If you want to know where things really went south, it all started with those two…"
-o-
Five Days Ago - Darkhan, Mongolia - 20:08 PM
It's silent and empty in a dusty Mongolian apartment. From its appearance, it seems as if this unit has been vacant for months, maybe even years; though little belongings and pieces of furniture rest, it's all just covered in a heavy layer of filth. The apartment itself has tenants in the neighbouring units all around.
"Geez…" Someone says, shuffling through the apartment. "Someone needs a maid. Or better yet, a fumigation service."
"You're one to talk," a second someone replies, obviously sarcastic.
"Hey, I clean up my messes."
She rolls her eyes. "After I tell you to. You're the primary reason as to why I have to buy red hair dye."
"Off topic, but what are we looking at again?"
She groans in frustration. "Make that red hair dye and aspirin."
He chuckles playfully. "You love me, Natasha."
Natasha gives Clint one of her signature ice-cold glares. After over two decades of marriage, missions, Merida, and the many years of their partnership before all those and the romance; Clint Barton still managed to find a new nerve in Natasha's body to annoy. Although The Avengers have loosened their reins on saving the world because of their ages and their kids now available, willing, and eager to do so; Clint and Natasha were still active. They may be considered more active than before. Thanks to Merida now being an adult and living on her own, Clint and Natasha had nothing better to do than go out and do missions.
However, there was one condition: the duo was extremely selective on their clients.
"I don't," Natasha replies, "and we're looking for a folder."
"It must contain some old documents if it's hidden in here," Clint says, blowing some dust off of an armoire.
Clint continues to eye the apartment: old couch, an old table, old painting on the old wall above the old couch - that's where his eyes focus because there is something peculiar about the painting. Clint steps closer to the painting and on the delicately painted canvas of the ocean, there isn't one speck of dust in sight.
"A new painting in an old place…" Clint mutters, capturing Natasha's attention.
Climbing on the couch, Clint lifts the painting off the wall and gently places it on the floor, leaning it against the table. He sees a carved outline of a rectangle on the wall that has been freshly painted over with a colour like the wall. Natasha stands beside him on the couch and traces the outline with her fingertips. She knocks and hears an echo, meaning that it's hollow. She pulls out a pocketknife from her utility belt and starts carving. It slices easily, like butter, but then she stops.
"Do you hear that?" Natasha asks.
It's a small and slow ticking noise that accelerates.
"Get down!" Natasha yells at Clint.
There was practically no time. Almost immediately, Clint grabs Natasha and uses his strength to launch them both off the couch, putting himself between her and the wall as it blows just before their eyes. Clint and Natasha smash through the table and land on the ground. Dust, wood shards, and wall plaster fly and land around them. Before they could react, dozens upon dozens of armed officers burst in with their weapons, surrounding them.
"You can't be in here!" An officer yells at them.
"We know," Clint replies casually, "hence why we had to sneak and break-in. Sorry about blowing the lock, by the way, we didn't have a key."
Natasha rolls her eyes at her idiotic husband. "Do you want to hit them or should I?"
"I was hoping we'd have a civil conversation with them."
Weapons are lifted before the chief officer holds back his men for some reason. Clint and Natasha get up by his order and as they reach for their weapons, the opposing guns are cocked which makes them freeze.
"I wouldn't move if I were you," the chief says. "We have a reason for you to cooperate with us."
"And what's that?" Natasha asks.
The chief pulls out a tablet from his uniform and holds it up for them. He shows Clint and Natasha a live stream. It consists of Merida in her apartment putting groceries away. Then the video pans to a nearby building that has a man on the rooftop with an armed sniper pointed right at her. Clint and Natasha suddenly tense at that sight.
"That's not real," Natasha says.
"Agent Romanoff, this is authentic, I swear," the chief says. "Test it out yourself with a phone call but don't mention this or my agent will pull the trigger on your daughter."
Natasha quickly glances at Clint. He nods, saying to go with the phone call. Natasha takes out her phone and dials Merida's number as a gun gets pointed right to her temple. All eyes are on the video and Clint and Natasha's hearts skip a beat when they hear Merida's cell phone ring in the video. They watch as Merida walks across her kitchen to pick it up from her counter.
Merida: Hi, Mom. What's up?
Natasha is frozen in shock by hearing Merida's voice in the video and her ear. She suddenly has no idea what to say. The gun butts against her forehead and Natasha takes a quick breath.
"Your father and I are just browsing through an old antique shop," Natasha lies casually to keep her cover. "We're just browsing for something small you can decorate your apartment with."
Merida: That sounds boring and you know I don't care much for antiques. Has Dad broken anything yet?
Natasha laughs a little. "Watch what you say, Мериде. Your words, unlike those of others, always have a way of making their way around. Back in a bit."
Natasha ends the call and her phone gets snatched by the chief. With Merida's, Clint and Natasha surrender all their weapons and allow for their heads to be bagged and arms and legs to be bounded.
-o-
Location Classified - Present Day - 23:44 PM
Agent Mike Tapper: You're going to put your parents under the bus for your mess?
His disgust towards her enlightens her.
"I think a better term to use would be under the water," Merida replies, being the only one who laughs at that statement afterwards.
[This is a story arc where you REALLY need to pay attention to when each event is taking place (the little italicized subheadings)].
