See You in a Minute

N A T A S H A

❝You love him.❞
- Wanda Maximoff

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New beginnings.

That is what Clint Barton represented for me.

I was supposed to die. And I was supposed to die as a cold-blooded killer, a murderer. But I didn't because he decided to make another call, putting himself in jeopardy.

I always asked him why. But every time I did, he would just smile at me and come up with a smart-ass remark until something else comes up and I couldn't ask anymore.

The first time I visited he and his family though, he told me. He answered all the questions.

It was night and I couldn't sleep so I decided to go out. It was such a peaceful night, I remember. It was cold, too, but then he came out with a jacket in his hold and I gladly accepted it when he offered it.

I wasn't even asking him that time. He just said, "You always ask me why I made another call. Look around you. I realized you simply needed this. You knew I was out to kill you. But you didn't fight. That alone shows redemption. I believe in you."

I have never been more thankful for anyone in my life. In that moment, I knew I owed him. I owed him everything.

He gave me a family when I didn't have one. He made me realize that I was more than the person they breeded me to be. Because of him, I was able to start a new life.

There was a point when people thought I loved him. I did. But not in the way they thought. I love him because I owe him because he's the reason why I had a new beginning. A new beginning from the monster I knew was me.

That's why after all the tears, when I finally got ahold of myself, Clint was the first person I called.

He didn't pick up after the fourth ring. When I finally heard his voice, a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. "Hello?" he asked weakly. He sounded like he just woke up from a nap.

The edge of my lips twitched into a ghost of a smile, "Clint."

The other line was silent for a few seconds but when he finally decided to speak, he sounded angry. "Who is this? You better tell me now or I swear to—"

"Clint," I cut him off. "it's me, it's Nat."

"Nat?" my name was a whisper on his lips. "Is it really you?"

A chuckle escaped my lips, "Yeah. Steve brought me back."

"But... he said it's permanent."

"I know. I don't know what Steve did or what he said but I'm back, Clint. I'm back."

I hear sniffling on the other side of the line and that's when I knew he was crying. I hated the fact that it had to be me and him to go to Vormir. I was so excited when we were assigned on the mission together but when that red faced guy told us what lies ahead of us, I hated my fate.

I didn't hate it though because I was about to die. I actually accepted the idea. The only reason why I was alive was because of them, this job, this family. But all of them, they all have something else, someone to live for. I was finally presented a way to truly get all the red off my ledger. It just pained me to know that he had to see me die. He saved me from death only to be taken by it in the end.

Shaky breaths were easily heard, "I'm going there. Where are you? Are you at Tony's place?" he sounded so sure, so concrete, it brought a smile to my face.