Running Fearless ( Avengers Fanfiction)

Chapter 9

They had a plan. It was well calculated, but there was always room for error. Katie wanted to reduce that margin as much as she could. And so she worked to perfect her part of the mission. That's why she stood in front of a monitor typing furiously. Once the final entry was entered, she stopped and let her eyes scan over the code.

"It's done!" she yelled and soon lab techs began circling. "I want that downloaded immediately." They nodded and went right to work. Katie stood there, now with nothing more to do until development was complete. She hated idle time. Because with idle time, she was left with only her thoughts and at the moment her thoughts were not keeping her calm.

"How is it coming?" A voice asked from behind her and she turned to see Clint standing there holding out a paper cup to her.

"I'm done," Katie replied taking the cup graciously. "Now I wait until it's downloaded onto the suit."

"You sure this is going to work?" Clint asked and Katie simply shrugged.

"Right now it's the only option I have with getting into HQ undetected." Katie replied. "How are the others coming along?"

"All the necessary equipment is still coming in, but it shouldn't be long before we're ready to go." Clint said. Katie nodded and they simply stood there not sure of what to say next. "So, uh what are you doing now?"

"Now, nothing but waiting." Katie replied. "Why?"

"I just thought maybe you'd like to go for a walk to... I don't know clear your head." Clint said. "You've been on edge since we got here, maybe a little fresh air will help."

"Maybe," Katie said looking around the lab seeing that everything was being taken care of before turning back to Clint. "Sure." He nodded and they both headed out of the lab to the outside of the bunker. They were walking for a while along the river in silence. It was in that moment that they both realized the awkwardness that had developed between them. After all this time had passed they didn't know how to act around each other which neither thought would ever happen.

"I'm sure Matt is going to be alright." Clint said suddenly breaking the silence. Katie glanced over to him. "I mean he's smart and very capable, if anyone can handle this situation it's him. He's like you in that way."

"You barely know my brother," Katie replied before taking a sip of her coffee. "And he has a big mouth and people with big mouths tend to get hit a lot. I'm speaking from experience." She shook her head and turned to look out to the water. "Nothing can happen to him."

"It won't." Clint said with certainty. Katie looked over to him and gave him a slight smile before turning back to the water and they stood there once again in silence. In that moment Clint stood there when the sudden urge to just touch her hit him. He knew they probably weren't there yet, that they probably wouldn't be there until after all of this craziness ended, but it didn't make that urge go away. And so on a whim, Clint slid a hand behind her back and rested it on her waist. He thought for sure she would pull away, but to his surprise she didn't, in fact she moved closer to him. Even lying her head on his shoulder. After a year and half he didn't realize how much he missed this contact until this moment when he was holding her in his arms and didn't want to let her go.

"Hey!" a voice called and both pulled a part and turned to see Natasha. "We have everything, what about you?" Katie glanced down to her watch.

"The download should almost be finished, I'll go move things along." Katie replied before hurrying back to the facility.

"Thanks Nat," Clint said walking over to the assassin. "You have impeccable timing, you know that?"

"Well once we stop millions of people from being murdered, then you and your girlfriend can go grope each other all you want." Natasha replied before turning and heading back to the facility. "We're scheduled to leave in twenty so get your shit together!" Clint simply shook his head before heading back inside to get ready.