Fighting Next To You ~ A Clintasha FanFiction

Part Three

*Natasha's POV*

​I've only been with S.H.I.E.L.D for a couple of months, and I still don't really know my way around. Barton walks towards the door, but spins around to face me before he leaves.

"I'm guessing that you don't know where we go to have health checks done, right?" He's got a smug look on his face, which makes me want to hit him.

"I can picture the room; I just don't know how to get there from here." Dammit, I admitted my defeat. Barton signals for me to walk with him.
​
Barton and I haven't addressed what happened in Budapest. We haven't even spoken about it since it happened, and I doubt anything will come of it again. There's just a small part of me that thinks we've missed out on something huge. If we'd stayed in touch after Budapest, we might be really close now. I don't even know how to talk to him; he's like a stranger. He only ever calls me Romanoff, never Nat or Tasha. Just Romanoff.
​
The Pre-mission Medical and Health Examination Room is teeming with nurses and doctors. Tay and Janeeva have already had their checks done, and are getting suited up. Everything feels so sudden, so rushed. I guess when you're here for a long time you get used to how hectic everything is. Tay flashes me a quick smile before grabbing Janeeva and taking him away. Tay and Janeeva are relatively new agents, but are fully trained. They're best of friends, and sometimes I can't help but think about what'll happen if one of them gets shot down, what will happen to the other? Agent Matthew Tay was my mission partner, but I guess now he's with Agent Janeeva and I'm with Barton.
​
The nurse takes my temperature and records it in a red notepad. They check my sight, hearing, sense of smell and touch, and make sure my reflexes haven't gotten floppy. My blood is also tested, and I'm asked once more about any allergies of health problems I might have. "I'm allergic to cheap washing powder." I say, bored of saying the same thing every single time.

The nurse smiles and checks me over once more before whispering "Good luck." in my ear. Barton's leaning against the door frame with one foot up on the wall.

"Done?" He asks. I nod, before following him out of the room.

​I get changed in the bathroom, pulling on my suit and tying up my hair. I take off my jewellery and lock it inside my locker. I strap one gun on my thigh, one on my belt, one inside my boot and the last on my other thigh. Spare bullets go inside my pockets and some are strapped onto my belt and there are some secret ones inside my gloves. I look at my reflection in the mirror. When I'm wearing this suit, with weapons strapped all over me, I feel brave. I can forget about the past and focus on the mission. I pull on a jumper and a pair of tracksuit bottoms to cover up my suit.

"Finished posing yet?" A voice says behind me. I spin round and Barton's standing smugly in front of me.

"Let's go." I spit, walking away from him.

​Before we go we've got to collect mission files, prepared suitcases and extra weapons. We wait by the front desk. Apparently someone is coming to show us to our vehicle. Barton starts to tap irritatingly on the desk.

Tap...tap...tap...tap...tap...

"Agent Romanoff, Agent Barton. Follow me." a short man with light brown hair smiles. Barton and the man start to have a deep conversation and I'm the third wheel.

"No, you should definitely buy the apartment."

"Really? I'm not sure it's the best idea..."

"PHIL, BUY THE GODDAM APARTMENT!" Barton shouts. Phil sighs. All of a sudden I'm involved in the conversation.

"Agent Romanoff, I don't think we've met. I'm Agent Coulson; I'll be observing this mission and making sure everything goes to plan." We shake hands briefly before Agent Coulson takes us over to a black truck. There's nothing special about it, it's just a muddy farmer's truck. Agent Coulson sees me looking at the truck.

"I know, it's nothing special, but it's good cover." He says, patting the truck. "I tend to call it Bertha, but you can name it... that doesn't matter actually..." Agent Coulson trails off. "Have you been briefed?" Agent Coulson asks.

"Yes Sir." Barton says taking the car keys from Coulson, he hands me a set of keys too. "

Good. Well, all the best guys." Coulson smiles and hugs Barton quickly before walking back to the main building.

"Right then. Let's get this show on the road!"