In the quiet, moonlit waters off the coast of Hawaii, a black inflatable raft drifted silently, its motor barely a whisper against the gentle waves. The vast expanse of the ocean stretched around them, the stars above casting a faint glow on the water's surface. Onboard, two figures sat, clad in tactical gear that suited stealth missions. Despite their military attire, their demeanour was surprisingly relaxed, more reminiscent of two siblings on a leisurely fishing trip than operatives on a high-stakes operation.
"I hear this might be our last mission together for a while," Clint remarked with genuine sadness. Their partnership had been short but extraordinarily successful. He had never had a partner who complimented his skills as perfectly as Natasha did. Consequently, Clint often boasted about their perfect mission success rate since teaming up. Additionally, they had become the best of friends over time, Natasha had become akin to a younger sister to him.
"Yeah, it looks like it," Natasha confirmed with a knowing smile. "I've got a new long-term infiltration mission lined up in a few weeks. Should be a nice change of pace from our usual gigs."
"Where's this one taking you? Moscow? Hong Kong? Kiev?" Clint asked curiously as he ran through the usual hotspots for SHIELD operations.
"Los Angeles," Natasha replied, her lips curling into a smirk.
Clint's eyes widened in mock outrage. "Los Angeles? That's not fair at all! That's practically a vacation! It's like getting paid leave with all the sun, beach, and celebrities," he whined, shaking his head in disbelief.
Natasha chuckled. "Hey, ever since I joined SHIELD, I haven't had much time with Harry. This assignment gives me the perfect excuse to be closer to him," she said, her eyes softening at the thought. "It'll be nice to have a semblance of normalcy for a bit."
As Natasha talked about Harry, Clint's tone shifted, growing more serious as he broached a delicate subject. "You still haven't talked to him about it, have you?" he asked, concern evident in his voice. "Nat, you need to tell him."
Natasha's gaze dropped, the weight of her secret pressing heavily on her heart. "I know," she replied, her voice tinged with sadness. "I just haven't found the right time." She felt a familiar pang in her chest, a mix of fear and guilt. She had enough opportunities to tell Harry, moments when the truth seemed to sit on the tip of her tongue. But every time she looked into his eyes, full of warmth and unspoken promises, she couldn't bear to break his heart. Harry had been her source of joy in her world. The thought of bringing pain and sorrow into his life was unbearable to her.
Clint sighed, his expression softening. "You know Harry's the kind of guy who gives you space and time, right? He won't push you, won't pry. He can be an ass that way, the knight in shining armour type—always respectful, always considerate of your boundaries, always the gentleman" he said, a hint of frustration mixed with fondness in his tone.
"I know," Natasha admitted, a faint smile touching her lips. "That's one of the reasons I fell for him. He gives me the space to be myself, to share things at my own pace."
"Having a family isn't just about you, Nat," Clint said gently. "Harry needs to be part of this conversation. He deserves to know that you can't have kids."
Natasha's eyes prickled with unshed tears as she looked away, struggling to find the right words. "It's just... we've never really talked about starting a family or what our future might look like. I like what we have now, and I don't want it to change. I just want to hold on to this, to us, for a little longer," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Clint reached out, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "What are you afraid of?" he asked softly.
"I'm afraid that he'll leave me," Natasha whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "That when he knows, it'll shatter this fantasy, this dream that I am living. That he'll be disappointed, and slowly, his love for me will fade away."
Clint's eyes softened with empathy. "Nat, the two of us might argue and fight all the time, but even I know Harry isn't that kind of person. He's in this with you, no matter what. He loves you for who you are, not for what you can or can't give him," he said, his voice steady and comforting. "You have to trust him, trust that he'll understand. Just tell him."
Natasha nodded slowly, wiping a tear from her cheek. "I know you're right," she said, her voice trembling. "I just... I need a little more time."
The radio crackled to life, breaking the intimate moment with a familiar, no-nonsense voice. "Alright, enough melodrama for today," came the voice of Maria Hill, Deputy Director of SHIELD and Nick Fury's right-hand woman. Her tone was sharp and commanding, cutting through the quiet night air. "We've got work to do, people. I need the two of you focused on the mission at hand."
Clint and Natasha exchanged glances, rolling their eyes in unison. It was typical of Hill to bring them back to reality, especially when they strayed into personal territory during missions.
"Copy that," Clint responded. "We're all ears."
Hill continued as she kept her tone professional and direct. "You two are to infiltrate the cargo ship, secure the data on the Ten Rings' weapons shipments, and exfiltrate swiftly. Your distraction should arrive any minute now, so be ready to move. Remember, this is a covert op—avoid unnecessary risks. Stick to essential communication, use code names, and keep it tight."
Natasha nodded, her demeanour shifting back to that of a seasoned operative. "Understood. We're ready."
"Good," Hill replied. "And Hawkeye, Widow—no heroics. Get in, get out, and stay invisible. We can't afford any slip-ups on this one. Over and out."
As the conversation came to an end, their target turned from a small dot on the horizon to a large, solitary cargo ship anchored in the vast ocean. The ship, seemingly innocuous, bobbed gently on the waves, its deck lined with rows of neatly stacked shipping containers. The vessel's dull, rust-streaked exterior gave it the air of any ordinary cargo ship, blending seamlessly with the countless other freighters that travelled through international waters. But Clint and Natasha knew better; this ship was no ordinary transport.
To the untrained eye, it was just another vessel hauling commercial goods. However, beneath the facade of innocence, it harboured something sinister. Inside those containers lay the latest consignment of weapons and resources, destined for the global network of the Ten Rings. Each crate potentially held enough firepower to arm a small army, making the ship a floating arsenal of destruction.
Natasha took a deep breath, shaking off the lingering feeling from her conversation with Clint. The vulnerability she had briefly shown was now locked away in the recesses of her mind. Compartmentalizing them for later and replaced by the professionalism of a seasoned operative. She reminded herself of the mission's importance, focusing on the task at hand.
The raft glided silently toward the ship's towering hull, blending seamlessly into the dark waters beneath the shadow of the vessel. Clint, secured the raft to the ship's side, ensuring it remained hidden from view. And, with a swift, fluid motion, knocked a specialized arrow and fired it upwards, the arrowhead embedding itself into the metal with a quiet thud. A thin, strong cable unspooled, providing a secure line for their ascent.
Natasha and Clint scaled the hull in near silence. The soft creak of metal was the only sound as they climbed, careful to avoid detection. Reaching the poop deck, they landed with cat-like grace, pausing momentarily to assess their surroundings. The ship's deck was dimly lit and none of the crew were patrolling the area.
They split up without a word, each slipping into the shadows. Clint headed towards the monkey island, the highest structure on the ship, which provided a vantage point over the ship. Natasha, meanwhile, navigated the deck with her usual feline grace. She made her way toward the cargo hold. Her path took her through narrow decks outside of the sleeping quarters. Her senses were high on alert for the slightest hint of danger. The ship was strangely under-patrolled, a detail that set off alarms in Natasha's mind. Her instincts told her she was walking into a trap.
As she approached the cargo hold, the air grew colder, the faint smell of oil and metal filling her nostrils. She paused in front of the containers that were lined up innocently, taking a moment to listen for any signs of movement inside. Hearing none, she navigated through the maze of containers, inspecting them one by one. Each one was packed with an arsenal of weapons. As she opened another crate, she recognized the design immediately.
"These are all filled with Hammer Industries' latest weapons. There are sniper rifles, assault rifles, semi-automatics, pistols, grenades, flash bangs, and the lot." Natasha reported over the radio, her voice low but clear.
Clint, perched high on the monkey island, responded with a note of concern. "It looks like Hammer Industries is stepping in to fill the gap left by Stark Industries, both in the white and black markets."
Hill's voice crackled through the radio. "Do you see any shipping manifests?"
Natasha continued her inspection, scanning the surroundings for any additional clues. "No manifests," she replied, her tone tinged with frustration. "But there are barcodes printed on all the containers. There must be a digital database somewhere on the ship. I'll try to find the terminal."
"Understood," Hill acknowledged. "Hawkeye, head to the bridge and see if you can find anything there. Widow, search through the accommodations for any leads. While the chances are slim, we might find crucial information about the Ten Rings' collaborators worldwide."
Clint's voice came through the radio, tinged with curiosity. "Fury still suspects there are rogue agents within S.H.I.E.L.D. working with the Ten Rings?"
"Yes," Hill confirmed. "When we took over Potter's investigation in Afghanistan, to find and eradicate the Ten Rings, S.H.I.E.L.D. did a piss poor job at it. Potter essentially gifted us the Ten Rings on a silver platter, but we let them slip through our fingers. Fury's been convinced ever since that there are elements within S.H.I.E.L.D. collaborating with various terrorist organizations. So far, we've found nothing concrete."
Natasha's voice cut in, cold and serious. " I hope the same did not happen with the Red Room program."
"No," Hill reassured her. "The Belarus base is confirmed to be destroyed, and Dreykov has stayed dead since you two blew up his base of operation. There's been no reported activity from any Black Widows since the incident either."
"Our cover is here," Clint announced over the radio.
Two squads of Navy SEALs descended in from the night sky, their parachutes opening silently as they landed on the front deck of the ship.
"Hawkeye, once the bridge is clear, retrieve the data," Hill's voice crackled through their earpieces. "Widow, stay out of the fight and focus on finding any additional information that you can."
As the tactical team moved through the cargo bay, the ship's response came quicker than anticipated. The crew alerted to the intrusion, scrambled to intercept the intruders. The bridge of the ship bustled with activity as instructions were shouted over the radio.
"They know," Clint reported, tension evident in his voice. "The crew in the bridge must have been tipped off about the attack. They've already dispatched a response team."
Natasha on the other hand, moving swiftly through the ship's interior, scanned each room with heightened urgency. Along the way, in a dimly lit corridor she encountered a lone guard patrolling the area. The guard, caught off guard by her presence, reached for his radio. Natasha, reacting swiftly, threw a small, concealed throwing star, knocking the radio from his hand. With a well-placed pressure point strike she incapacitated him silently, slipping past him before he even hit the floor.
Two other guards were rushing to the main deck and came across Natasha as she rounded the corner. Seeing them, Natasha instinctively launched a roundhouse kick to one guard's midsection and a swift takedown to the other, leaving them both incapacitated in a matter of seconds.
"Widow, I need you in the bridge, now!" Clint's command was urgent.
"What's the situation?" Natasha inquired as she moved to search through the rooms.
"I'm having trouble accessing the system," Clint explained, his frustration palpable as he struggled to bypass the security measures.
Natasha made her way to the bridge as quickly as she could. The door slid open to reveal a chaotic scene. Clint neutralized the crew stationed on the bridge, and his focus was divided between the security console and monitoring the ongoing situation in the cargo hold.
As Natasha started to hack into the console, Clint kept an eye on the fight ensuing on the Deck. The Navy SEALs team, initially moving with ease, found themselves pinned down by the ship's crew, who had responded with surprising efficiency. The sound of gunfire and shouted commands echoed through the corridors as the SEALs struggled to maintain their footing against a well-coordinated counterattack.
"The Navy SEALs seem to be cornered," he said with concern. The SEALs were taking cover behind crates and equipment, their movements now desperate as the ship's crew closed in. "I think Fury's suspicions might have some merit. This response is too quick and too well-organized to be just a random reaction."
As the fight raged on, the Navy SEALs were starting to get overwhelmed against an increasingly aggressive crew. The sound of gunfire, clattering metal, and shouted orders filled the air, but amid the chaos, a new and unmistakable presence made itself known.
With a powerful burst of thrusters, Iron Man soared into view, his sleek armour gleaming under the harsh deck lights. The sudden appearance of the armoured hero was accompanied by the deafening roar of repulsors firing. Iron Man descended into the fray with a metallic thud, his repulsors cutting through the air and sending the ship's crew flying in all directions.
"We have Iron Man in the field," Clint remarked.
The crew, momentarily stunned by Iron Man's dramatic entrance, scrambled for cover. However, their efforts were futile against the advanced weaponry and combat skills of Tony Stark. With a series of calculated blasts and well-aimed missiles, Iron Man defeated them with ease. A barrage of concentrated fire was shot at Iron Man, but it only left scratches in the armour.
Iron Man's movements were a blur of speed and efficiency. He used his armour's enhanced sensors to track every opponent, neutralizing them with pinpoint accuracy. The SEALs, previously pinned down and outnumbered, watched in awe as Iron Man turned the tide of the battle. The repulsors and mini rockets from his armour created a dazzling display of fireworks, scattering the remaining crew and securing the deck.
With the immediate threat neutralized, Iron Man's focus shifted. He shifted his focus to the bridge of the ship. Without hesitation, he launched a high-explosive missile towards the bridge. The missile streaked through the air with a trail of smoke, heading towards its intended target.
"Widow, we've got to get out of here!" Clint shouted urgently.
"Just a few more minutes," Natasha replied, her focus unwavering. "We've hit a gold mine of information here. It's not just weapons going to the Ten Rings; this shipment includes supplies for various associates as well. Plus, there's a list of contacts we can investigate. This data could be crucial. The transfer will only take about fifteen minutes."
However, Natasha's triumph was fleeting. Clint abruptly yanked her away from the computer, and the two of them leapt from the bridge into the dark waters below. Just as they hit the surface, a deafening explosion erupted from above. The bridge was hit by Iron Man's missile.
The missile had struck with devastating force, tearing through the steel structure and shattering the reinforced windows. The explosion was thunderous, sending a shockwave that rocked the entire ship. The fireball illuminated the chaos, as the bridge crumbled and disintegrated, further destabilizing an already tumultuous situation.
Clint and Natasha swam urgently towards their raft. Their muscles strained against the cold sea as they propelled themselves away from the wreckage. The raft bobbed in the turbulent waters as they clambered aboard, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. Clint quickly detached the raft from its mooring and began to maneuver it away from the wreckage.
Iron Man hovered above the devastated bridge, a silent sentinel amidst the chaos. The once-pristine structure was now a smouldering carcass. Thick black smoke billowed upwards, mingling with the flickering flames that danced across the wreckage. The fire illuminated the twisted metal and shattered glass, casting an eerie glow over the scene.
Iron man launched another barrage of missiles, their trails of fire briefly illuminating the ship as it was engulfed in an inferno. The ship began to sink, the flames consuming it in a dramatic crescendo of light and heat. The towering columns of smoke and fire rose high into the night, painting a grim picture of devastation
With a final sweeping glance at the devastation he had caused, Iron Man ascended into the night sky. His repulsors emitted a brilliant, pulsating light that sliced through the smoke and darkness. As Iron Man's silhouette grew smaller against the fiery backdrop of the burning vessel, his figure was gradually enveloped by the encroaching night.
The once-mighty ship was now a blazing ruin, its descent into the ocean signalled by the final crackle of flames and the increasing distance from the armoured avenger. As the ship vanished beneath the waves, Clint and Natasha watched in stunned silence. The only sounds that filled the void left by the ship's destruction were the roar of the flames and the distant hum of Iron Man's departure.
"Widow, Hawkeye, come in. What's happening out there." Hill's voice came in in their radio.
"Iron Man just sunk the ship," Clint replied with a sigh in his voice.
"Did you get the data?" Hill asked.
"No, we didn't have enough time," Natasha replied. "We couldn't get anything. He blew it all up before we could get the data."
"Fury is going to be so furious," Hill stated.
"Yeah," Natasha agreed. "The data, that I got to glimpse was quite significant. We could have had the whole of Ten Ring's international operation and network. We could have dealt a very big blow to the Ten Rings."
"That's why I don't like these people who have a Hero Complex." Clint sighed. "The whole mission was destroyed just because they wanted to play hero and do what they think is right. Let the pros do their thing."
Natasha's jaw tightened as she looked back at the distant wreckage and the Navy seals team that were leaving the wreckage in their own raft. A wave of frustration washed over her. She had always respected the drive of those who sought to make a difference, but Iron Man's reckless heroism was a different matter entirely. To Natasha, it seemed Tony Stark's actions were driven more by a need to prove his own worth than stopping the Organization's global operations.
In Natasha's view, Iron Man's approach to heroism was flawed. His tendency to swoop in and save the day, without fully understanding the situation or considering the long-term ramifications, was causing more harm than good. For a genius, he seemed to be very short-sighted. The data they had been so close to retrieving could have dismantled significant parts of the Ten Rings' operations, striking a critical blow to their global network. Instead, Iron Man's impulsive intervention had destroyed that opportunity, setting back their efforts and potentially allowing the Ten Rings to continue their operations unimpeded.
Author's Note:
Thank you everyone for the support and thank you for your kind words and all the reviews that you have left.
A bit of Clint Natasha and their sibling-esque relationship while also foreshadowing a bit of winter soldier plot. While highlighting how Natasha views Iron Man. Something to set the tone of the Arc going forward.
I have started a P. A.T.R.E.O.N with the name Bivz643, if you guys are interested in reading ahead. For now, you can read ahead to chapter 37 of this fanfiction. In that chapter, Harry and Co faces the Destroyer. There is only one tier for $5 with the benefit being access to the library and that I will be posting 2 chapters per week there. I understand that not everyone can become a Patron and support me monthly. However, if you'd still like to read ahead, you can do so by getting the PDF version of the 2nd and 3rd arc of "A Wizard in the MCU" for $3 each at P. A.T.R.E.O.N. shop
Anyway, see you all next week. Happy reading.