Under or Over: Hawkeye & Black Widow

CHAPTER #58

Marcy made sure that she turned on her womanly charm, while in the presence of Clint Barton. After the circus show, they talked to the performers and she made sure to bring up good memories of the past.  She hoped that the nostalgia would work in her favour.  But he was not as naive as he'd once been.  Barton knew she was working him, using his affection to coax him back to the circus.  Part of him was giving it some real thought, but another part of him just couldn't push away all the bad things that had happened in the past.  Barton realized he understood how Romanoff was feeling, more so than he had originally thought. At the same time he was a man and Marcy was a very beautiful woman.  He was not immune to her sexuality and the old chemistry they had once shared, resurfaced. Marcy was disappointed when he didn't follow her into her room to spend the night.

What Barton didn't know, was that Romanoff had found out what room Carson was in and had put a tiny camera in the hall.  Romanoff didn't trust Carson and thought Barton was walking into some kind of trap.  Unfortunately she ended up witnessing Carson place a long and heated kiss on Barton's lips.  The way he held her in his arms and pulled her closer, made Romanoff's breath catch.  She cared about Barton a lot more than she let on and in a more than friends kind of way.  Yet, she was glad to see that he didn't go into the room with the woman from his past.  Romanoff wondered just how close had the two circus pals been. 

Clint said, "good night Marcy, keep in touch." Then he waited until she closed the door. Something caught his eye and he looked a little closer.  Barton recognized the camera and knew it was one of theirs.  He took it down and put it in his pocket, undecided about confronting Romanoff about it.  He returned to their room.

"How was the circus? Bring back lots of memories?" Natasha asked casually.

"It was good and yes it did.  Marcy's become a shrewd business woman," Clint replied as he took off his tie and shirt.

She handed him a beer, "are you thinking of quitting S.H.E.I.L.D?"

He shrugged, "I'd be going from one circus to another."

That made her smile, "but does Carson's circus have a HULK?"

Clint laughed, "well there was a gorilla that could play the part."

Natasha used her skills and drew the information she wanted out of him.  "Don't let Banner hear you compare him to a gorilla."  

He knew what she was doing, "Nat if you want to know about my past with Marcy, just ask, don't work me."  Clint sighed and closed the bathroom door, so he could change.

"Sorry, it's habit," Natasha apologized.

From the bathroom he said, "I'm sure you've read my file and know I grew up in the circus. Marcy grew up right along with us.  My brother, Marcy and I were like the three musketeers; doing everything together.  But when we hit puberty, everything changed.  Marcy and I have always had great chemistry," Clint continued as he came back into the room.  "Barney got jealous, first of her and then because he felt left out. We tried to include him in things, but sometimes we wanted alone time.  Things went down hill from there, even though Marcy ended up choosing neither of us in the end.  She refused to come between brothers."

"So she's not the reason for the bad blood between you and your brother?"  Natasha asked cautiously.

He heard it in her voice and glanced at her.  "No, that's not on Marcy."  Clint didn't elaborate, instead he asked, "what time do we continue our operation tomorrow?"

"0500," she replied simply, no longer probing him with questions of his past.

"Will we return here or move on?" Clint asked as he checked his gear.

She knew what he was really asking, "don't worry you'll have a chance to see her off... I promise."

"It's okay if I don't Nat, I was just asking so I know what to pack," Clint explained. He took the camera out of his pocket and placed it on her night stand, "thanks for watching my back anyway."

"Clint," Natasha began, but the look he gave her made the next words fail.

"I know Nat, I know. This mission, like no other, comes first and nothing or no one is going to change that."  He walked over to her and gave her a quick hug, then went out on to the balcony.

Following shortly after him, she leaned against the rail beside him, their arms touching. "And when it's over?"

He shrugged, "we'll see when that happens.  Do you know what you'll do?"

"Okay point taken, the future sometimes can't be predicted."

Clint asked, "would you care if I left for the circus afterwards?"

"I... you know I would," Natasha sighed, half under her breath.  "Just like I know that you'll always respond to the Avengers call."

He nodded. "Good night Nat," he said, touched her arm affectionately and went into the room.

She heard him turn off the light beside his bed.  He'd let her off easy about the spy camera and his invasion of privacy.  Natasha closed the sliding door and before going to bed, paused by his.  "I'm sorry Clint."

"Get some sleep Nat, tomorrow's going to be a long day."