ANTI-HERO [N. Romanoff × Female Reader]

Chapter Twenty-Two

Clint Barton sat at a corner table in a dimly lit safehouse, scanning through encrypted messages on his device. His eyes narrowed as he came across a distress signal. It was from one of Natasha's hidden communication channels, and it was marked urgent. He quickly decoded the message:

"Natasha and Bucky locked up at Valentina's hideout. Immediate extraction needed. - M"

Clint's heart raced. He knew the risks involved in a mission like this, especially against someone as dangerous as Valentina. He immediately contacted Steve Rogers.

"We have a situation," Clint said as soon as Steve picked up. "Natasha and Bucky are in trouble. We need to move now."

Steve, always ready for action, didn't hesitate. "I'll meet you at the Quinjet. We need to get them out."

Clint and Steve arrived at the location, a fortified compound hidden deep within a desolate area. They moved swiftly and silently, using their training and experience to bypass security. But the closer they got, the more apparent it became that Valentina had anticipated their arrival.

Inside the compound, Natasha and Bucky were in a small cell, bruised but determined. Natasha's eyes lit up when she saw Clint and Steve.

"We need to find Y/n first," Natasha urged, gripping the cell bars. "She's here, and she's in worse shape than us."

Clint quickly scanned the room, assessing the situation. "Where is she?" he asked, urgency in his voice.

"Valentina has her, probably brainwashing her as we speak." Bucky added, his voice strained. He knew that there's a big chance that Valentina is hurting Y/n, as he is aware of how brutal that woman is.

Steve nodded, but his expression was grim. "We're running out of time. Reinforcements are coming. We need to move fast."

As they made their way through the corridors, they encountered heavy resistance. Valentina's guards were well-trained and heavily armed, making the extraction incredibly difficult. Despite their best efforts, they were soon overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Sure Captain America is with them but that was not enough, this was an unauthorized mission, so even if Cap could fight them all his actions were limited as he could put his friends at risk.

"We're outnumbered," Clint shouted over the sound of gunfire. "We need to retreat!"

"No!" Natasha yelled back, desperation in her eyes. "We can't leave without Y/n!"

Steve grabbed Natasha's arm, pulling her behind cover. "We don't have a choice. We'll come back for her, I promise. But we need to get out now, while we still can."

With no other options, the team fought their way back to the extraction point, barely escaping with their lives. As they flew back to the Avengers compound, Natasha's heart ached with guilt and anger, knowing Y/n was still in Valentina's clutches.

Upon arrival at the Avengers compound, Director Fury was waiting for them, his face a mask of controlled fury. The atmosphere was tense as the team disembarked from the Quinjet.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Fury demanded, his voice cold. "This was an unauthorized mission. You put everyone at risk!"

Natasha stepped forward, defiant. "Y/n needed us. This has everything to do with what happened in the past. It's our responsibility to face it."

Fury's eyes blazed. "I don't care about your personal vendettas. This is bigger than you. We're trying to locate and dispatch Valentina, but she's a ghost. And now, Y/n—a known international criminal—is under her watch. You've only made things worse."

Bucky intervened, his voice calm but firm. "Sir, we had a lead. We thought we could take Valentina down and rescue Y/n. We underestimated her forces, but that doesn't mean we were wrong to try."

Fury shook his head. "You went in blind. Now Valentina has Y/n, and she's more dangerous than ever. We'll keep working to find her, but you need to follow protocol. We can't afford any more mistakes."

Steve stepped in, his tone conciliatory. "Sir, we understand the stakes. But Natasha and Bucky have a personal connection to Y/n. They couldn't just stand by."

Fury sighed, rubbing his temples. "I get it. But right now, we need to come up with a plan that doesn't involve rogue missions. Valentina is our priority, and we'll find a way to bring Y/n back."

Natasha looked at Fury, her resolve unshaken. 

Fury nodded, though his expression remained stern. "For now, get some rest. We'll debrief in the morning and figure out our next move."

As the team dispersed, Natasha's thoughts remained on Y/n. She knew they had to act quickly—Y/n's life depended on it, and so did their chance to finally bring Valentina to justice.

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