Barton and Natasha frequently mentioned Budapest, reminiscing about a mission from their past that had brought them together. Their conversations on the topic were laced inside jokes and shared glances, and how they did not remember the mission the same way. Each time they brought it up, details were purposefully omitted, leaving it as a joke between two seasoned operatives. They had a weird sense of humour.
Tony was aware that Barton, at one point, had a mission to eliminate Romanov. She was working for their enemies. The archer had decided to spare the red hair, but the circumstances surrounding that decision were only known by those two. Remarkably, Barton had not only spared her but also managed to convince Nick Fury, the all-knowing director of Shield, that Natasha Romanov, aka the Black Widow, could be an invaluable asset to their ranks rather than a liability when she worked for the Red Room.
Tony had no doubt she had been useful. Particularly without knowing it to Hydra. However, Fury's methods were so similar to the well-known Nazi organisation that recruiting enemy trained assassins was clearly viewed as a good thing and a victory. Looking back, Tony wished he had never worked with the shadow agency.
The city sat on both sides of the Danube. The serene communities winding through lush green hills exuded a romantic charm. On the other side, a more dynamic and culturally vibrant atmosphere prevails, marked by a bustling business centre. Despite the modern facade, remnants of the industrial past lingered, a testament to the city's history. Tony couldn't help but appreciate the wealth of historical landmarks scattered throughout the entire city, a reminder of the passage of time and the resilience of its people. Contemplating this, the thought about going back to Budapest for a vacation with Pepper and Morgan, to fully immerse themselves in the city and enjoy the time together.
Now that he thought about it, the fall of Shield appeared to be more of a blessing than Tony had initially realised. He had hacked their servers once or twice before, but back then he had been driven by different motivations, not looking for the debrief reports of one among many missions. Tony couldn't help but question why Natasha didn't take the time to remove that specific mission before dumping all of Shield's data on the internet.
It was a weird choice, considering that she had certainly taken her time to delete many other items that would certainly not have the same impact on her life. The question lingered in Tony's mind. Why did she leave that to be discovered by all? It surely was more complex than mere oversight. She must have really liked Rogers to prioritise his needs before hers.
Barton wasn't hard to find when one knew where to look. Tony watched with a mix of amusement and satisfaction as the archer shadowed Romanov and he knew that Natasha was fully aware of the situation. Clint had never been the sharpest tool in the shed, and he probably had no idea the red hair had already twisted him around her little finger. Barton would eventually have to convince Fury about her value. Natasha would be drawn back into the fold, her past actions and allegiances forgotten.
Natasha Romanov had always been something of a turncoat. Her time with the Red Room had run its course. Shield would certainly provide her with many more opportunities. Her sobbing story about whipping the red stains in her ledger served as a calculated leverage, a means to an end. Fury believed he held all the cards, that he was the oldest and most clever pirate in the galaxy. Tony, however, knew how much Fury had been wrong about everything.
"I have the target in view." Barton said through the comm.
Someone, most likely Agent Coulson, was supervising the conversation from the other end. Tony knew he could effortlessly breach their outdated tech. Shield, despite what they wanted to make people believe, wasn't very good in that department. Whatever Coulson was answering, ultimately, that wasn't overly important.
