We could be heroes
Telling Clint was the easy part, he hadn't objected all that much because what she'd suspected was right: He was going stir crazy. None of them were particularly happy about being cooped up for this long, they were used to working some kind of mission or another so to have one was a welcome reprieve for both of them. Sharon and Steve had both requested to accompany them and so had Sam but Bobbi and Clint had both maintained that they'd get in and out faster if it was just the two of them.
They knew each other well enough to be able to accurately anticipate every move the other would make. They could agree on a plan with a simple nod. They knew one another as well as they knew themselves so it was easier if it was just the two of them rather than wasting the time it'd take to train with someone else to even figure out how they'd work as a team. Time being of the essence and all that, she'd won her argument.
Bucky had asked her a million times if she was sure she wanted to do this and she'd told him in the end if he asked her one more time she was going to hit him upside the head. Hard. He'd just laughed but she promised him they'd spar when she got back and she'd hand his ass to him just to prove a point. She could tell he didn't believe her but she just shrugged and warned him that was a bad idea.
She was only messing of course but she just wanted to make him laugh. She was getting good at that.
She'd put in a call to Melinda who'd happened to be able to get her a quinjet and informed her she was planning on sticking close by in case she got her dumb ass into trouble again. Melinda knew her too well and Bobbi was glad for that, she was probably the best person in the world to have at your back if you needed it besides Frank. She missed her big brother right now...
She'd managed to talk to a friend she had and he'd gotten her as much detail as he could about the compound and her and Barton had gone over their plan about a hundred times and by late afternoon and a whole hell of a lot of protest from everyone else and a whole host of warnings to be careful, they were ready to go. She and Barton were their best bet here, Clint could subdue the asshole while Bobbi got what she needed from their computer systems.
It was a good plan, Clint could work well enough with computers but he was awful with the whole chemistry stuff.
He didn't understand a single bit of it and he made a point of telling her that. Repeatedly. That was why it was agreed that he'd be the one to subdue their target and she'd deal with the tech stuff because she did know what she needed to find. It sounded simple enough and all each of them could do was hope that they could get in and out as easily as she hoped.
Plans were easy, whether or not those plans worked out was another matter entirely and in their line of work plans were iffy at best. Out here they didn't have access to even half of the resources they usually had but they were going to do their best anyway. There was a whole hell of a lot riding on them being successful, at least there was for Bucky.
That was what played on her mind as they set off later that day and the whole ride to their destination. Clint didn't have to ask because he knew all too well what was wrong with her. He knew her well enough to know without ever having to ask out loud and so he just offered her comfort.
By the time they were ready to go in, she was in full blown focussed mission mode and he knew all too well that was the moment they ceased to be anything else beyond partners out there in the field because that was what kept them alive, that was the difference between one wrong move and doing the smart thing.
It couldn't be personal or emotional because that was what caused the kinds of lapse in judgment that got you killed.
Getting in - they discovered quickly - was as much a risk as Bucky had said it would be and both of them avoided one too many close calls with the mercs this guy had hired as private security for any of their comforts. Clint took two grazing shots, one to the upper arm and the other to the side of his right thigh but that didn't mean that they weren't holding their own well enough. None of them had had anyone actively trying to kill them in a while so they were out of practice...
Only a little bit.
Bobbi took a nick to the neck with a rather nasty looking combat knife and a hell of a blow to the head that had her ears ringing for a good five minutes worse than all of the shouting and gunfire did as an asshole literally jumped out from around a corner with such speed that she'd been thrown off guard for a moment, he'd swung out with the knife first and she'd been quick enough to more or less avoid that but not quick enough to avoid the elbow that connected with her face as he spun. Okay... So they were well trained... Sort of.
It had been a bit of a pain in the ass to say the very least but both of them were more or less okay and there were no major injuries because they'd managed to be spotted as little as possible and as they prepared to split off to accomplish their separate tasks for just one moment it became personal again as he pulled her into his arms.
"Be safe okay? I love you, Bobs."
"You too, okay? Don't get yourself killed. No heroics, if it gets too hot get out." She warned him with a serious look.
He wouldn't agree easily and she knew it. If it got too hot, get out. That meant leaving her and he wouldn't do that unless he had absolutely no other choice and she wouldn't have him get his dumb ass killed trying to save her. If this went sideways, he had to get out and trust that she could handle herself. Reluctantly noting from the look on her face he was not going to win, Clint nodded.
"Don't let that happen." He replied gently.
"Not if I have a choice." She replied as she leaned up to kiss him. "Go. We don't know how long we have until someone figures out where we are. Go."
Clint made his way to find their target because Bucky had warned them that there were built in defenses here that they didn't want this asshole to trigger while Bobbi went to find his computers. It all seemed very goddamn simple and that was probably why she should've known that nothing would be that easy. She found her way easily enough to his main server room which meant her best chance of accessing what she needed and she had to admit he had a hell of an impressive layout down here.
It must've cost a small fortune for it but then these kinds of people never struggled for money... Bad guys always seemed to get whatever they wanted from the world. It irked her more than she wanted to admit but bypassing his security wasn't anywhere near as hard as he'd probably have sworn he would be. Obviously he didn't bank on people like her with her skills ever trying to do it. Idiot. Arrogant idiot at that.
She was about halfway through the file that detailed the drugs and she was memorising each and every word written there - Eidetic memory was useful - when she heard someone behind her and she rolled her eyes. She listened to the person speak and she fought the urge to laugh as she held up her hands anyway.
"Easy there, Romanoff. I'm on your side." The blonde turned to look at Natasha then. "Put the damn gun down, would you?"
She watched the way that Natasha immediately became a mixture of curious and angry as she figured out who the hell she was before she'd turned around. Bobbi grinned and offered her a wave. She knew there was no way in hell Natasha would kill her unless she'd joined the other side again which was... Problematic but not a problem that couldn't be solved.
"Bobbi?! What the hell are you doing here?" Nat demanded. "If you went freelance and you're working for this son of a bitch..."
Bobbi just laughed. Loudly and sounding very amused too mind and shook her head. There was no way in hell she'd ever do anything like that, Bobbi Morse wasn't the type to turn Merc no matter what happened or how desperate she got and she was a little bit wounded that Natasha would even ask;Bobbi had always had a particular distaste toward mercs largely thanks to Frank and what he'd been through.
"Same thing as you probably, let me guess: This son of a bitch has files you need for something?"
"Yeah..." Natasha frowned, she sounded wary.
"Well me too so I guess this means we're working together, now can I get back to what I was doing or do you wanna talk this out some more?"
All Natasha could do was stare at her. Bobbi Morse rolled her eyes.
"I'll explain when we're done, okay? It'll all make sense young padawan, relax."
"Fine but I need to do something when you're done and I don't need you asking me questions, I need files on a few things then I'm gonna wipe the whole damn system." Natasha's determined tone earned her a smile from Bobbi.
"Fine by me." Bobbi replied with a shrug. "What you're doing is your own business I learned a long time ago not to ask you questions. I'm smart, remember?"
Bobbi turned back to the computer then and pushed the earpiece she had.
"Alright guys, I've got what I need here do you wanna ask if there's anything else I gotta find or?" Bobbi wasn't talking to Natasha now.
She didn't even mention her being there. Sharon informed her that if she could get a hold of any personnel files she was sure they'd help Bucky.
"Yeah well personnel files aside I've got all the details on the cocktails they gave, they've got copies of brain scans and whatever, I'm gonna put them on a thumb drive and I'll look through them properly when I get back. There's a whole hell of a lot on the before and after. It looks like they really enjoyed what they did and they really wanted to see how much they could twist someones DNA before they made them into something that wasn't useful anymore. I don't know who their last test subject was but it doesn't from this like they survived." Bobbi sounded sad then.
Almost sickened by it if she was going to be honest. She listened to Sharon inform her that she should get everything and get out before it became a problem. Bobbi fought back emotion, anger mostly as she focussed on listening to her friends voice.
"Okay, we'll be back as soon as we can. We've run across a bit of a complication but it's nothing I can't handle. I'll explain everything later. Take care guys, keep the defenses active until I tell you otherwise." And with that, she shut off the earpiece.
She noted Natasha's curious look as she turned back to look at her, leaning against the desk as she waited for the files to copy over. She rose a brow.
"What?"
"Who're you working with?" Romanov demanded. Bobbi offered her a look that quite literally said Seriously?
"I already told you I'd explain everything later. Work now, talk later."
She turned again and plucked out her thumb drive and stepped aside.
"Knock yourself out, Red. Just be quick we should probably move before reinforcements arrive." Bobbi shrugged.
"Or the asshole that owns this place kicks in its defenses." Natasha muttered, clearly annoyed.
"Not gonna happen, Barton knocked him out and tied him up we're good."
"Clint is with you?" Natasha had known he was staying with her but here... "Of course he is. Never did like to let you get into shit on your own."
She smirked then.
"Hey I'll have you know I have everything under control. I have backup and everything." Bobbi threw back with a grin.
"You're a pain in the ass." Natasha sighed as she leaned over the computer, clearly she could find what she wanted easily enough.
She didn't look like she was having any trouble with it anyway. If she was, Bobbi supposed she'd at least ask her for help. Natasha was proud but she wasn't stupid. She knew that they were on a ticking clock and they really didn't have all day.
"You aren't even the first person that's told me that today." Bobbi let her eyes roam the outside of the room just in case someone had woken up.
"That doesn't surprise me." Romanov spoke while she reached out to Bobbi. "Give me that thing would you? I need copies before I wipe it."
"Sure thing, just be quick."
Complications. She hadn't wanted complications and yet she'd found it in the form of a redheaded assassin. Of course she had. Bobbi sighed and shook her head, so much for that smooth mission plan of hers. The others were gonna love this. Well, Steve and Sharon would be happy she wasn't sure the same could be said for Bucky though.
Clints mind was racing even as he sat on the desk making sure that the son of a bitch didn't wake up, if he did he was going to meet the business end of a kick to the face, someone appeared in the doorway and held a gun on him and Barton responded by aiming straight at her heart.
"Drop the gun." He warned her, she just laughed.
Clint narrowed his eyes at her.
"Who the hell are you?" He sounded snappy, he was in no mood for this shit. "If you're here to back up this son of a bitch I'm willing to bet I'm quicker than you are."
"No, I'd prefer to kill him honestly but unfortunately that isn't as easy as it sounds." The blonde shrugged. "Who are you?"
"I asked first." Clint retorted. He watched her frown and roll her eyes.
"You're immature." She shrugged her shoulders then. "Yelena Belova. You're Clint Barton."
"Yel- Wait, wait. The psychotic assassin that's spent the last God knows how long trying to kill Tasha?" Yeah, he was keeping his aim.
She lowered her gun though.
"Natalia and I are on the same side now." She replied brightly. "You're not going to kill me so put that thing down."
She sounded certain, Clint didn't move at all though bar to look at their target to make sure that he wasn't waking up. He had more tranquiliser in his vest but he'd prefer to knock him out in a far more violent way, from what he knew this asshole deserved it anyway and he had a whole lot of anger to work out but he wasn't that cold. Angry yes, but he'd do it the right way, he wasn't going to lose himself.
"Why the hell would you be on her side? You're a crazy ass assassin." Clint snapped.
Yelena just laughed again.
"So was she once. You didn't seem to mind that all too much when you helped her, stop being so judgmental." Not that she cared what he thought of her.
"How'd you know who I am anyways?" He was curious now.
"You were a target too once." She replied like it should've been obvious. She was toying with him before just to give herself something to do.
"Natalia, we have a wayward Archer with an attitude problem so move before I decide to shoot him." Yelena touched the earpiece before she spoke.
"Yeah, ran into a complication myself down here but we're done so I'll be right up. No shooting Barton Yelena, he's a friend." Natasha sounded irate as she spoke.
Belova rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Not my friend." She muttered. "But fine, I won't shoot him even if he is being irritating."
"Irritating is what Clint does best." Natasha sighed as she spoke. "On the way up now. Play nice. Both of you. Tell him that, too."
"Natalia says we have to play nice. You're annoying. Why are you annoying?" She leaned against the wall as she spoke.
"For attention mostly." Clint shrugged then. "I'm bored. I've been babysitting sleeping doucheface here for like half an hour now."
She could understand that, she'd have been just as bored had she not shown up to have her job already done for her. Her back and forth with him at least gave her something to do. She studied him, he had grey eyes and a tired look on his features but behind that blazed an anger and determination that she almost found admirable. Almost. He was irritating but then what could she expect from some do-gooder master marksman? She was fully aware of who Clint Barton was, she just wanted to screw with him to alleviate some of her own boredom.
And she literally had nothing better to do.
Barton seemed relieved when he watched Natasha and Bobbi appear, neither one of them looked particularly thrilled that the other was there but what could they do? It seemed like they were in the same place and trying to accomplish the same task even if they didn't realise it It was curious. Natasha looked at Clint who immediately moved forward leaving his bow on the desk to pull his best friend into a hug that earned him a frown.
"Missed you, Tasha. You doing good?" He noted hers and Yelena's matching outfits. It seemed as though the crazy blonde was telling the truth.
"Missed you too, idiot." Nat replied playfully.
Bobbi's eyes moved to Yelena and she breathed out a dramatic sigh.
"You have got to be kidding me." She narrowed her eyes. "I swear if you try anything funny I'm gonna shoot you. Again."
Natasha turned with a questioning look.
"We met about five years ago. She shot me in the leg. Our missions were... Opposing." Yelena explained with a shrug.
"You broke my nose, you asked for it." Which Bobbi had to admit was mild all things considered.
"Okay well, we'll deal with your little whatever the hell that is later. You two need to get out of here. Now. We'll meet you outside."
She watched the way both Clint and Bobbi wanted to ask questions. She shook her head to cut them off and told them to get the hell out. Her and Yelena had a plan all along to blow this place on the way out with Anton inside, neither of them had any intentions of letting him walk out of this. He didn't get to live after what he'd done.
"We'll meet you outside I promise." Natasha looked between both of them. "Just go. This is between me and Yelena. This is something we need to do."
Which meant basically that there was no way in hell she was going to let them talk them out of it so there was no point in them trying. Bobbi and Clint exchanged a look between them before they nodded anyway. They'd ask questions when everyone was out of here safe. They turned and made their way out - via the window - leaving Yelena and Natasha do whatever it was they had to do. Once outside, Clint pulled Bobbi into his arms and he breathed out a relieved sigh.
"Thank God that's over. I'm glad you're safe." He spoke as he kissed the top of her head. "We can go home."
"It isn't over, Clint. This is just the beginning." Bobbi replied quietly as she buried her head in his chest.
He knew she was right but for right now, it was about as over as it was going to get for a little while. From hereon out it was down to Bobbi to figure out all the science-stuff before they could do whatever the hell it was they needed to do to make sure this was over for all of them. They were all worried, every single one of them was worried and no one knew where they were going from here but he knew that there was no way in hell he was going to let anything happen to her or to any of them.
Which was why he was thrown off balance and alarmed as he watched both Natasha and Yelena run toward them shouting at both of them telling them to run and fast. There was no time at all to question them because Natasha screamed again as she skidded to a halt in front of them leaving them no choice whatsoever to comply and move the hell away and fast... It didn't take long for Clint to understand why: Moments after, there was a loud explosion and the house that had been stood before was now a fiery wreck of a building. In that moment he understood what it was they had to do: Make sure that man didn't make it out alive.
They had made sure that whatever he'd done to them was over with forever.
Once they were at a safe distance, both Bobbi and Clint stopped to look at the two assassins and while each of them had a million questions here was not the place or the time, if they didn't get away as fast as possible they were likely to end up getting arrested. That explosion would draw attention and fast.
"Where're you going now?" He spoke directly to Natasha.
"No idea." She replied honestly. "We had to. We had to finish that."
"Come with us. Both of you." It sounded more like an order than a request.
They owed one another a whole hell of a lot of explanations though and Bobbi's eyes looked toward Natasha then.
"If you want any answers, you're gonna come with me and I have a feeling you're gonna be glad you did. Where we are is safe. It'll give you the chance to regroup and figure out where you go from there. We'll talk when we get back I promise. It'll make more sense when we do." She promised. She hoped like hell she was right.
None of them could give any answers while trying not to get arrested for blowing a building with the occupant still inside. She wasn't thrilled about that at all but it wasn't her call to make. Whatever the hell it was that Natasha and Yelena had been there for was obviously personal to them as were their reasons for doing what they did. She watched the way Natasha turned to Yelena and asked her if it was okay, Yelena hesitated but she turned to look at both Bobbi and Clint and nodded.
It wasn't like any of them had anywhere else to go right now and certainly not anywhere that was safe. Bobbi was about to have a house full and she wasn't sure how the hell any of this was going to go down with her current house guests but what choice did she have? She needed answers out of Natasha and here wasn't the time or place to get them. Natasha and Yelena clearly needed somewhere safe to go... Being out here was dangerous for both of them.
Being out here could get them killed and that? That was something she couldn't abide.