[Fic] Reactivation - Chapter 4: Berlin (avengers_xbb)

[crescent_gaia]

Title: Reactivation
Chapter Title: Berlin
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Word Count: 3,197
Overall Word Count: 15,660
Spoilers/Warnings: Spoilers for all movies; Violence
Summary: Clint Barton is called in as William Brandt with his IMF team. Seems that they're tracking the last Black Widow of the Red Room's program. While Clint is off being another person, Natasha starts to feel like her old life is crawling back while Tony's problem with his heart becomes bigger.
Author's Note: I do not own Avengers, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Bourne Legacy or any of the characters from those various fandoms.
Thank Yous: A big thank you for my beta and cheerleader sirwynai for you are awesome and you know it. A huge HUGE thank you to evian_fork for all of the amazing art. I love it, all of it.


Clint opened his eyes as he felt someone tap his shoulder. He looked up at Ethan and then out the window before remembering that he was on a plane to Berlin. “Forgive the question, but are we there yet?” He asked as he rubbed sleep out of his eyes. He sat up, moving the blanket off of him as he unbuckled himself from the seat. “And who buckled me in?”

“I did,” Ethan said. “Along with the blanket. I woke you in the middle of the night. Thought the nice thing to do would be to let you sleep.”

“Thanks,” Clint said. “We’re going to get into Berlin too late to do anything.”

“Which is why we’re going to go to the hotel and get more of a game plan first,” Ethan said. “And see if we can’t go in at night. Less fuss and muss that way.”

Jane came over to them, cutting off what Clint was going to say. “We’re all set for the hotel. Benji was able to get us a suite at the Ritz.”

“That’s fancier than we’ve been for a while,” Ethan said.

“It was the only place that had a suite,” Jane said and sat down next to Clint. “It’s good to have you back.”

“Thanks,” Clint said with a smile. “It’s good to be back. How have things been without me?”

“Boring,” Jane said. “And Benji complaining a bit too much. You were able to reel him in more times than not.”

“Well, I’m sorry about that,” Clint said. “Maybe it’ll be better now.”

“Yeah,” Jane said. “How long are you staying, anyways?”

“Long as it takes to get this done. Maybe longer,” Clint said. “Why, you want to get rid of me again?”

Jane laughed. “Nope,” she said and got up. “Benji said that we’re going to be landing in an hour.”

“Alright,” Ethan said. “Let’s check the gear.”

“Benji said that he already checked over his part of the gear and marked the bags,” Jane said as she got up and went with them. They looked to make sure that they had everything they needed and Jane left as Benji called her up to the front.

“These are all set,” Clint said as he moved a couple of bags and found a long hard case. He opened it and smiled at seeing his arm guard, bow, and quiver. He closed it quickly before Ethan saw what was in it. “Seems this one is meant for me.”

“Yeah, I was told it would be a good idea to have it along,” Ethan said. “Helps having a friend in Nick Fury.”

“So, when you said you read my file, you meant that you read all of it?” Clint asked. “Not sure if I like that or not.”

“Well, you’re going to have to deal with it. I do like Brandt’s name better than the other one that you’re using,” Ethan said.

“Well, it’s my real name, so I’m not sure what to tell you,” Clint said. “Lot of backstory there.”

“Never did think I was getting the full story anyways,” Ethan said. “But before we left, an agent calling himself Coulson made sure that we had the case.”

Clint froze and looked at Ethan. “Phil Coulson?” He asked in a whisper.

“Yeah, why?” Ethan asked.

“He’s supposed to be dead,” Clint said.

“You’ve got time for a phone call if you want it,” Ethan said and motioned towards the bathroom. “I’ve got it under control here.”

Clint nodded a yes and quickly made his way to the bathroom. He closed and locked the door before taking a deep breath and dialing a number he knew from memory. He listened to the ring back tone of Requiem for a Tower before the phone was picked up.

“Coulson,” the voice on the other end of the line said.

“You’re an asshole,” Clint said. “Or the Director is. I’m really not sure who I’m mad at more.”

“Good to hear from you too,” Coulson said. “Anything new to report?”

“Ethan Hunt seems to know a lot about me,” Clint said. “Although, you already know that.”

“He requested the file and the Director decided to give him the full story. They go back a ways,” Coulson said. “You know I would have told you sooner if I could.”

“Does Tasha know?” Clint asked.

“Yes,” Coulson said. “She was the first to find out.”

“Lucky,” Clint said. “You going to be there when I’m done with all of this?”

“You know I am,” Coulson said and paused. “She’s having problems again.”

Clint swore at hearing that. “There’s nothing I can do from here, is there?”

“Calling her might help,” Coulson said. “And, just so you can yell at me now, she got into your Outcome file.”

“..You let her in, didn’t you?” Clint asked and laughed. “I thought I was going to be angrier about that.”

“I’m just glad you’re not,” Coulson said. “She and the Captain are going to find Stark. Turns out that his shrapnel moved.”

“New York. The gift that keeps on giving,” Clint said and froze at hearing the loud knock. “Gotta go.”

“Have fun, don’t die,” Coulson said and hung up.

“Yes boss,” Clint muttered as he made sure the phone was off and cleared the call log before opening the door. “Hey,” he said to Jane. “We’re landing?”

“Yep,” Jane said and led Clint back to where they were sitting before. “When were you in New York?”

Clint sat down next to Ethan, letting Jane take the seat next to Benji who was working on a computer. “What?”

“When were you in New York?” Jane asked again.

“Bit ago. Why?” Clint asked.

“So this isn’t you?” Benji asked as he turned the computer around to show a picture of when Clint was on the rooftop shooting arrows at the aliens.

“Everybody’s got a twin,” Clint said with a grin and looked at Ethan.

“I would tell them,” Ethan said. “We all know each other’s secrets by now.”

Clint sighed. “My real name is Clint Barton and my code name is Hawkeye. Yes, that is me. But I would like to stick to the name William Brandt with all of you. It’s just easier to keep everything separate. I was asked by the people I work for to get into IMF and get close to the secretary as an analyst. I did and then went against orders to go with the three of you to clear IMF’s name.”

Jane and Benji looked to Ethan about that. “I trust him,” Ethan said. “I do with my life, as should the two of you. He jumped into a computer for us. He didn’t need to do that. He could have turned us all in with one phone call. He didn’t.”

“I didn’t want to,” Clint said. “There was no good reason to. Plus, I was a bit shook up. The Director gave me hell for not calling in. I was given a babysitting job and that lead to the actions in Germany and New York.” He thought for a moment. “Although, I believe they got rid of the warrants for my arrest there.”

“Do we want to know what you did?” Jane asked.

“What I do best,” Clint said with a grin. “I’m a sniper,” he explained and the plane touched down. “I want to stay. My first big mission - the one where they let me off the leash and do what I wanted - was bringing in the second Black Widow. I really did turn her. I was supposed to kill her.” He paused for a moment. “I am going to follow Ethan’s lead on what he wants done with this mission. He is the one in charge and I’m not going to change that.”

“Huh,” Benji said. “So you really are a superhero?”

“No,” Clint said. “More of a helper,” he said with a grin.

Jane grinned at that. “I remember you not liking that role,” she said as she got up and grabbed a couple of the bags.

“Eh, grew to like it,” Clint said as he grabbed another and the case holding his equipment. “So, hotel, clean up, go on mission?”

“Yep,” Ethan said. “And I didn’t think it would be a problem telling them.”

“Glad you were right,” Clint said as he followed Jane out. They got into a very nice looking van that was waiting for them and went to the hotel. Nobody gave them a second look after checking in and going up to their suite.

Benji quickly got out his computer and onto the Wi-Fi network. “Alright, so the building we’re going to - security is top rate, but I can hack in.”

“Get started on that then,” Ethan said as he opened one of the briefcases and got out the comms. “So, use Jane as a distraction to get in. Brandt and I will go up to where the file is, grab it, and get back out before anything happens.”

“Sounds like a good plan,” Jane said. “Good thing I thought to bring better clothing,” she said as she opened up one of the cases and took out an outfit that would work the best. “Club wear.”

“You’re going to look amazing in it,” Clint said. “Then again, you look amazing in most things.”

“I thought I was supposed to be the one who flatters her,” Ethan said.

“I see no reason not to be on her good side,” Clint countered.

“Men,” Jane muttered and grinned at the both of them.

Clint smiled and got what he needed before pulling the larger case to him. He took out the quiver, flattening it, before doing the same thing to the bow, before putting on his arm guard. He looked at Ethan, who had an eyebrow raised. “Easier to wear under a coat if they’re flat against your back.”

“Makes sense to me,” Benji said as he came over with the laptop. “So, exit and entrances are here and here,” he said as he pointed them out. “If you need them, fire exits are on the side of the building and go into dead end alleyways that lead back out to the street.”

“What level are we going to?” Clint asked.

“Sixth,” Benji said. “That’s where the files are. According to the security cameras in the room, there’s a computer but I can’t access it. So it’s not on the internet or on their intranet.” He held up a USB thumb drive. “Stick this in and that will get it on the internet so I can hack into it.”

“Alright,” Ethan said and took it. “Anything else?”

“There’s five guards on duty and three janitors. Janitors will be out by midnight and that’s when they do a break,” Benji replied.

“So we go in at midnight?” Clint asked.

Ethan looked at the time. “Yep. It just means that we’ll have time to kill to eat and relax.”

“Sounds good to me,” Benji said and ordered room service for all of them.

They all did their own things with Clint off to the side, just observing and being quiet. He looked up as Ethan came over and sat down. “I’m alright.”

“I know,” Ethan said. “Sorry for it coming out like it did.”

“It was going to happen sooner or later,” Clint said and looked over at Jane as her cell phone rang. She listened for a moment before looking at the phone oddly and he heard the same thing she did - a series of beeps. “Wrong number?”

“Guess so,” Jane said and went back to looking over Benji’s shoulder.

“Not the first time that’s happened,” Ethan said. “You ready for this?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Clint said with a smile.

The last hour passed quickly before they made their way to the office building. Jane went in first, using her charms to get the guards there to focus on her instead of on the cameras they were supposed to be watching. They snuck into the building and made their way up to the sixth floor via the stairs. They took their time, knowing that Benji was controlling the cameras so that none of the guards would see them. Ethan picked the lock on the door, slowly opening it and taking a look around to see if there were any trip wires or lasers. Seeing neither, he motioned for Clint to come in and closed the door. “I’ll get the computer,” he whispered to Clint. “Start looking.”

“Got it,” Clint said quietly and started looking through the different file cabinets as quietly as he could. He stopped as he saw something on the side of a different cabinet and went over to it. He looked at the symbol on the side and went over to Ethan. “So, how is the computer search going with Benji?”

“He can’t find anything yet,” Ethan said. “Why?”

“I know where the file is but we don’t want to open the cabinet,” Clint said. “There’s a HYDRA symbol on the side.”

“Meaning..?” Ethan asked.

“Meaning that we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be for finding the file,” Clint said. “And if Benji can’t find anything, we’re going to have to open it and pray we’re not blown up or poisoned or something.” He tried to remember the other horror stories that Coulson had told him about HYRDA but nothing was coming. “It could also be a lot worse.”

“It could also be nothing,” Ethan said as Clint gave him a look. “But you know that it is something.”

“Yeah,” Clint said.

“The computer’s empty,” Benji said on the other end of the comms. “You’re going to have to go into the file cabinet.”

“Of course,” Clint said and led the way over to it. “Give me your lock picks.”

“No argument from me,” Ethan said and handed them over.

“Thank you,” Clint said as he started to slowly pick at the lock. He heard it come loose and handed them back to Ethan. “Might want to stand back.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow but did as he was asked to do. “Alright.”

Clint winced and then slowly opened the first drawer of the cabinet. Amazingly, it was empty and nothing else happened. “Huh.”

“Well, better empty than anything else,” Ethan said. “Try the next two.”

“No, really? I was just going to leave them unchecked,” Clint said as he opened the next one to find it empty. The third one held just one file in a red file folder. “Here we go,” he said as he moved to take it out and Ethan stopped him. He raised an eyebrow. “There’s nothing there.”

“There could be. Be careful,” Ethan said.

“I don’t see anything,” Clint said and waited for Ethan to let his arm go. He took a second look around where the file was before very gently lifting it out. “Got it,” he said.

“Good,” Ethan said and looked down at the drawer. “And there’s a blinking red light.”

Clint grabbed Ethan back just as the cabinet exploded. “So it was something that I couldn’t see. Can’t blame me for that.”

“I’ll find a way,” Ethan said.

Clint was about to say something when he cried out in surprise at an arrow going through his leg. He let Ethan pull him behind another file cabinet before he broke off one end of the arrow and pulled it through. He looked at the arrow before throwing it away. “I’m fine!”

“You’re bleeding and that is not fine!” Ethan said as he tore off some of his jacket to make a tourniquet. “Are you able to walk?”

“Yes,” Clint said as he got up, pulling off his jacket and grabbing his bow. With a press of a button on the bow, the quiver came back to original position as he undid the bow. He moved over to the window and let an arrow fly, counting to five before letting the arrow blow up. “Now we should go,” he said as he collapsed his bow and made the quiver flatten before putting on the jacket again.

“Yeah,” Ethan said as he moved to the door and looked out of it. He motioned for Clint to stay for a moment before using the door to smack the guard on the other side of it hard. He slammed the other guard in the hallway hard against the wall and made sure they were both out but breathing. “Come on.”

“Thanks,” Clint said.

“Don’t mention it,” Ethan said. “Jane?! Can you meet us with the car at the second side exit?”

They both listened to the silence on the other end of the comms. “Benji?” Clint tried.

“I’m here,” Benji said. “Her comm is active. I don’t know why she’s not answering.”

“Jane?” Clint tried and there wasn’t any answer. “Benji, can you track her?”

“Trying now,” Benji said. “You two should get out of there.”

“Alright,” Ethan said. “Are you alright to walk on your own?”

“Yeah,” Clint said. “See you back there?”

“More that I’ll see you out on the street and you’ll get in the car,” Ethan said. “Be careful.”

“Will do,” Clint said as he went down a separate staircase from where Ethan was. “Benji, do you have her yet?”

“It’s like she’s not moving,” Benji said. “But I didn’t hear gun shots near you.”

“Unless they were timed for when the explosion happened,” Ethan said.

“I would have heard feedback like at the Kremlin,” Benji pointed out and chuckled. “Jane - they were - “ and then the sound of two shots being fired.

“Benji?!” Ethan asked.

Clint froze in the stairwell, waiting for the answer to come. “Come on Benji, answer,” he muttered, mostly to himself.

“Hello boys,” Jane said through the comms. “Did you like the present that my friend left?”

“Jane, what are you doing?” Ethan asked.

“What I’ve been trained to do. Wait, be activated, and then kill our enemies. It’s actually a sane plan,” Jane said. “I am sorry about Benji though, but I was told to kill one innocent. So, I’ve fulfilled that part of my contract.”

“Jane, your enemy is me. IMF has nothing to do with SHIELD and you know it,” Clint said.

“Yes, but IMF made an alliance,” Jane said. “You’re part of that, Barton. You’ll be dealt with soon enough.” There was a pause. “Ethan - it was fun to work with you and share a bed. Sorry that it has to end like this. Maybe we’ll have better luck in another life.”

There was a harsh buzzing on the line that made Clint tear out his ear piece. He rubbed his ear for a moment before feeling the building shake. “Shit,” he said as he quickly made his way down the stairs and out the fire exit door. He took a moment to look around before he felt the arrow go through his other leg. He fell to the ground and hit his head as another arrow went into his left arm. He tried to keep consciousness as a man came over to him. “Why?” He whispered.

“Sorry brother,” was the only response as everything went black.