Budapest

Catching Prey

The plane ride was a long one for Clint and Natalia alike. Clint's injured body not a fan of the turbulence of the trip and Natasha feeling helpless as she tried to pull her mind together, her hands bound with handcuffs. Arriving at SHIELD headquarters in Washington D.C., the agents on the plane were more than eager to rid of their passengers, 10 hours being enough time in their shared company.

Upon landing, Clint was immediately carted off to medical, and Natalia was still in the plane as the agents awaited orders. The time passed by painstakingly slow until Natalia saw a suited man with ID approaching the plane, nodding at his fellow agents.

"Hello," he greeted.

"Hey Phil!" one of the agents greeted back, "Where do you want the Widow here? You didn't mention anything about her arrival." Natalia took a closer look at the gentleman after the friendly interaction, seeing his name was Phillip Coulson, but she supposed friends called him Phil. Natalia thought that this might be the man she spoke to over the phone as she could sense anger and protectiveness rolling off the man in waves, not that the other men took any mind.

"I'll take her off your hands gentleman, good day," Coulson responded before guiding Natalia away from the plane and inside headquarters. Agent Coulson didn't bother conversing with her, and she had no issues holding her tongue to the pair walked in silence down the corridor. Expecting to be led to a cell for interrogation, Natalia was surprised as he led her to a small medbay. Coulson, however could sense her confusion and explained, "It's SHIELD policy to med-check prisoners before questioning."

Natalia couldn't help the resistance building on the prospect, med-checks at the Red Room happened once a month, and rarely ended in anything but pain. Natalia recalled the last time she entered was the previous year for the graduation ceremony, a painful hysterectomy, and the time before, another injection of serum. The Russians had yet to perfect the super-soldier serum, but Widows in the top of their class were graced with the unfinished trials, Natalia's enhancing her agility and metabolism in particular. Natalia knew it was unlikely anything of the sort would occur in this med bay, she had been captured by Americans before, but found herself wanting to reject treatment nonetheless. She didn't dare voice her displeasure but instead watched carefully as the doctor took her vitals and blood, ensuring nothing foul was at play.

Stuck in her thoughts, the med-check was over before Natalia knew it and she was finally lead to the interrogation room.

***

Phil Coulson didn't know what to think of the Black Widow. Before seeing her, he would've said she was heartless, cruel, she had to be, she was an assassin! But Phil wasn't so sure when he met the woman, noticing the kindness she must've shown to stitch Clint up and the barely concealed worry she held for the man as he was wheeled away. He supposed this was a show of the widow's manipulation, but found it hard to believe Clint would save her life on that principle alone. He hadn't a clue what the man was doing, risking everything for this woman he'd just met, but Coulson would be a hypocrite if he said it aloud as he had done the same thing for Clint not 2 years ago. Their situations were very different, mind you, but Phil could see the similarities. Clint was brought in hostile, untrusting, demons plaguing his every move, and Natalia had no doubt experienced plenty of demons of her own. Coulson thought the hostility would rear itself in interrogation for the fiery woman had a barely concealed storm in her eyes as she strode to the room.

***

Clint woke up a few hours after he was placed in the med bay, a groan surfacing once his eyes were met with the terribly bright artificial lights and smell of cleaner. Clint hated SHIELD's med bay; despite his constant injuries from countless missions, the man never found comfort in the room, preferring to treat his own wounds and get back to business over the isolation and just plain boredom lying in a hospital bed.

The next thing Clint noticed was the eerie lack of sound, they must've taken his hearing aids out. Looking beside himself for the devices, he found them in his friend's hand, palm facing upwards to offer him the aids. Securing them in his ears, Clint was grateful to hear the soft noises around him and savored the moment he knew would not last long.

In record time, he was being screamed at, "What the hell were you thinking Clint?! You saved the Black Widow's life! You do realize that is exactly the opposite of your mission, right?! I can't protect you from Fury's wrath when you completely disregard his orders!" Coulson exhaled as he got his worries off his chest, arms crossed child-like as he waited for a response.

Clint found himself smiling despite the situation, "Nice to see you too Phil." Coulson only rolled his eyes before talking again: "Ha. The Widow's in interrogation right now with Rumlow-"

"Him? Brock sucks at interrogation!" Clint interrupts with a whine.

"Maria's away on a mission, and Fury would interview her himself but he's getting chewed out by the World Security Council cause she's not 10 feet underground." Coulson says with a pointed look towards Clint that gets a sheepish expression out of the man.

"M'sorry Phil, it was a decision made in the moment, you know?"

"No, but you can tell me all about it when you debrief in a few hours. Rest up," Coulson begins to leave Clint's bedside.

"Natalia!" Clint says before Coulson exits the door. He turns back in confusion and Clint explains, "That's the Black Widow's name, Natalia." Coulson raises an eyebrow at the intel before shaking his head in bewilderment, walking out of the room.

***