Email Log: A Different Call (SHIELD sends Hawkeye to kill the Black Widow)
Clint: *It wasn't that he did /everything/ his handler asked him to. However, they'd mentioned that this Black Widow had caused a few problems. They just wanted her off the radar. Permanently. Which was why he was out in the middle of nowhere, sitting on top of a building watching for this woman. He didn't know her from Adam or Eve but it didn't mean that he wouldn't hesitate to take her out. He'd learned a long time ago that if he was going to do this job and do it right he had to detach himself a bit. Otherwise emotions would rear their ugly head and ruin everything. Something he just couldn't afford.*
Tasha: *She knew what she was doing was wrong. Immoral, evil even but being the Black Widow had been all she was for so long that Natasha had no idea how to be anything else. She left the dark tavern just as police sirens started to come from the distance, wrapping her coat around her as the rain started to come down.
A buzz in her pocket of a text message let her know the money transfer had been successful. Easiest million a girl ever made, she told herself. It didn't matter the guy had a daughter who was barely in school, she thought firmly. It was irrelevant that the little one happened to be there during the 'job' even though the mark was supposed to be clear. She'd get over seeing her father murdered before her eyes and be stronger for it, right? And a little girl couldn't...wouldn't ID her father's killer. The shock would make that impossible. It had to. Everything was fine.*
It was just business. *Natasha scolds herself out loud as she moves quickly down the street, completely unaware someone's watching her.*
Clint: *His eyes were on her the whole entire time. Following her every movement through the rooftops. He wasn't going to show himself just yet. He'd make sure that her mess was taken care of. Though for now he was just going to follow her. The next stop she makes he'd drop down to take care of her. Or take care of her now...*
Tasha: *she's too wrapped up in convincing herself everything would be fine to notice the things she should be. Her head stays down as she moves along the sidewalk, looking casual in spite of how closely this latest job has hit her. She's read the file. The little girl's mother died giving birth. Her father was all she had and now there was nothing.
Nothing. Because of what the Black Widow had done for money. A huge amount of money, but money nonetheless.
She decided a shortcut through an alley is the best course. Already the police are combing the area for witnesses. It's best to stay under the radar.*
Clint: *He continues to follow her and narrows his eyes. To be honest he didn't like the idea of executing anyone but he'd do whatever needed to be done. Do his assignment and then go about his day. So when she starts down through the alley, he notches the arrow in his bow and lets it flow. He doesn't let it hit her but it comes damn close to it.*
Tasha: *she hears it before she sees it, throwing herself against a brick wall to avoid the shot that wasn't meant to hit her. Her head tilts as she looks at the arrow embedded in the side of a metal dumpster. Her guns were out in a heartbeat, the billowing trenchcoat shed to reveal a black dress that left very little to the imagination. Still, she moved with a speed and grace most women in little black dresses and heels could never manage. She looked at the arrow, deducing the angle before she turned and aimed her gun where the archer should be standing.*
HEY! *she shouted upwards* If you want to play, come out and play! * with the mood she was in she could so do with killing some asshole who tried to kill her*
Clint: *when she looks up he's not there to see. He's better than that. However, he notices her weapons... the dress... but that doesn't stop him. Coming down from the roof on the other side he notches another arrow pointing it at her. If he wanted to kill her, he could've.*
Natasha Romanoff, someone has a bone to pick with you.
Tasha: *she fires in the direction of the voice, which is stupid and reckless but in her defense it's been a hell of a night. She's not on her A game.*
You're going to have to narrow that list down, Legolas. You could be talking about at least a dozen people in this city alone.
Clint: SHIELD.
*simple and to the point. It was them that had a bone to pick with her. Especially after her little mission.*
They want you dead.
Tasha: *she smirks, acting very proud of herself, though she's anything but* No wonder the payment was so good.
*she continues to hide out behind the brick wall* SHIELD sent one man to kill me? I guess they don't want me dead that badly.
Clint: *the archer doesn't say a word and narrows his eyes, firing off another arrow close to where she was, this one completely different from the others he'd fired off. It exploded a bit of the wall*
You didn't like what you did on that mission either.
Tasha: *she covers her face with her arms and spins around to another wall for coverage. This guy is REALLY getting on her nerves and what he says doesn't help.She shouts back at him.* It was just a job!
Clint: *he doesn't believe her. Not one damn bit* If it were just a job then it wouldn't be bothering you so much and I'd be dead already.
Tasha: *see, now that just pissed her off. She comes out from cover, both weapons drawn though she hasn't let herself calm down enough to figure out where he is. This could get her killed...and she honestly doesn't care* COME OUT AND SAY THAT TO MY FACE!
Clint: *Oh he comes out alright. Right behind her which just so happens to show him that she's not on her A game. His arrow is right at her back, his eyes narrowed*
That job bothered you. It shows in the way you hold your guns, the way you hold even yourself... That wasn't just a job to you. It bothered you.
Tasha: *she freeze the second the tip of that arrow presses against her back. The Black Widow slowly lifts her arms out so he can see both guns before she drops them to the ground, not saying a single word. Yet.
The fact he's RIGHT makes her head slump, her eyes close for a moment before she folds her hands against the back of her head in a gesture of surrender. Most of this is an act but part of it's real. He doesn't need to know that though.*
Clint: *Unfortunately for her he's not stupid. That arrow presses a bit deeper against her back, his eyes narrowing* Was it just for the money then? *Not that he really gives a damn why she did it. He had his orders but there was something about the woman that just... he honestly didn't know.*
Tasha: *she growls at the point of the arrow digging into her skin. She's already cut to bits from the shattered wall. Why doesn't he just move so she can take the opportunity to break his fucking neck already!?*
YOU couldn't begin to understand why I did it.
Clint: Oh I understand more than you think. *sorry, Tasha, he's not going anywhere. Nor is that arrow that's at your back* I've killed before just like you and they gave me something better.
Tasha: *She swallows, loudly enough that he should be able to hear it in spite of the rain still pouring down. It's washing the blood from her injuries away but they still burn like crazy*
And you're going to kill again, for their /better/ reasons. *her head turns then, and even though it makes the arrow dig harder into her back. She meets his eye, her voice picking up a harsh Russian bite* So do it.
Clint: *those eyes bore into hers when she meets his eyes* I do what needs to be done. Question is do you really want to die? *it goes against what SHIELD wants him to do but...*
Tasha: *she can't look away, either. Ordinarily someone so foolish to even consider giving her a seconds time would end up a crumpled heap of a corpse on the ground before they could voice a word of protest. Why is he still alive, damn it!?
Her chin tilts up as she swallows again, never blinking as her eyes start to look a little wetter. Why'd he have to ask her that of all things?*
Yes. I want to die.
*It's true, now that she really thinks about it*
Clint: *the fact that she was admitting... Somehow that didn't set right with him. It shouldn't of bothered him but it did. Why the hell did it?*
Why?
Tasha: *she glares, her tone venomous.* You think you know me so well? Figure it out. *she's still trying to shake him up, but if he did kill her, she would be alright with it. Funny thing, her mind.*
Clint: Why don't you tell me why. *it's said a bit ground out, arrow digging into her back a bit more. There was just something about her. He couldn't kill her.*
Tasha: *she doesn't flinch, even though turning so she can look him dead in the eyes will surely make that arrow tear through her skin* Because she's an orphan now. Because of ME!
Clint: I know good and well what it means. So you want to die rather than make things right?
Tasha: He's DEAD. *stated as if Clint is an idiot* I can't make things right.
Clint: You can make things right. By fighting on the right side. *he's more than serious despite her wanting death*
Tasha: *sorry but she's just going to laugh at you now. So much so it sounds like she's crying. She's not...honestly* That's not possible.
Clint: It is possible. I know that it is. *its said firmly even as he ignores that laugh* I know a way that you can.
Tasha: Why should what you know matter to me? *even so, there's something in her voice. Hope, perhaps*
Clint: Do you want to fight for something good or do you want to keep killing people, getting their blood on your hands? *it's said pretty damn close to her but he keeps that arrow on her.*
Tasha: *she knows he's close, so close she can feel him breathing on the back of her neck when he speaks. Blood on her hands? He's got no idea, and it only makes her feel that much more desperate. She doesn't care if the arrow goes of when she does it. Natasha acts as fast as a cat, using her own forehead to try and knock into his and get him off guard*
Clint: *more than he has on his more than likely. However, he's not expecting her to try and do something like that, though he should've. Unfortunately that knock to his head has him losing the grip on the arrow and it goes flying at her. Unfortunately because of how she pulled away it goes straight into her stomach.*
Tasha: *She expected that. The Black Widow has made peace with the fact she's dying today, but like hell is she's not taking him with her. She takes his arrow in a fortunate location, nothing's going to rupture but she'll bleed out sooner than later. More than enough time to give him a proper ass kicking and then some. She skids back, her eyes narrowing dangerously. She has absolutely nothing left to lose.
Trouble is, that arrow won't fucking break when she tries. Oh well, she can kill him with an arrow in her guts. It's not like he hit her legs. She flips onto her hands, though it's markably slower than usual, and twists her legs around his neck. Shouldn't take much to crack the right bones so she can die in peace, should it?*
Clint: *Any other day and he would've been afraid that she was going to snap his neck. Break it right in two. After everything he's been through with the circus and the rest of his past, he would probably be like her. Welcoming death. Not that his handler would be too happy over it.
Reaching up he grabs her legs in a tight grip to pry her off of him*
Let me get you help.
*He doesn't care how it sounds to anyone around them. Then again he also needed to get her off of him long enough to call for help so she didn't die on him. Yes, the mission was to kill her but he didn't want her dead.*
Tasha: *it doesn't take much to get her off him, actually. She's weakened, emotionally and physically. The Black Widow just doesn't have her usually bloodthirsty murderous rage. He removes her, and she lands, miraculous, on her side. Not driving the arrow any further in but it hurts like hell. She lets out a cry of pain before kicking at him.*
I don't need anyone's HELP!
*She notices then one of the guns she dropped earlier. In a moment it's in her hand and aimed right for his head*
Clint: *between the time it takes for her to land on her side and go for her gun, he's already put a hand to his ear to radio in back up. A medical extraction. However, when he does get that gun pointed at his head, he points an arrow straight at hers.*
You do need help. If you want to help that orphaned girl in any way, you do.
Tasha: *She's got blood in her mouth by now, her vision growing fuzzy from the injuries of brick wall piece that sliced her up and his arrow. Not to mention that fall. The blood splatters when she shouts.*
Fuck! You!
*She fires at him, or rather two damned feet to the side of him doing no damage whatsoever. The gun clatters to the ground again as she starts laughing, a mixture of anger, relief and tears tainting it. Her eyes focus for just a moment, long enough for her mutter three little words as she starts to fade.*
Just kill me.
*She's begging here, as evident but the additional 'last' word*
Please.
Clint: *he doesn't even so much as flinch when she fires at him. Not that she's not good because she is but because she's lost quite a bit of blood. He ignores her pleas for him to kill her and goes to her side, staying by it the whole time that medical does show up. Taking them both back to SHIELD.
He needs to be checked out as was required post mission and he's done his damnedest to keep close to her there too. That way no one pulls anything stupid. Even if he knows that he disobeyed an ordered. Changed his mission from execute to bringing her back alive.*
Tasha: *She knew what she was doing was wrong. Immoral, evil even but being the Black Widow had been all she was for so long that Natasha had no idea how to be anything else. She left the dark tavern just as police sirens started to come from the distance, wrapping her coat around her as the rain started to come down.
A buzz in her pocket of a text message let her know the money transfer had been successful. Easiest million a girl ever made, she told herself. It didn't matter the guy had a daughter who was barely in school, she thought firmly. It was irrelevant that the little one happened to be there during the 'job' even though the mark was supposed to be clear. She'd get over seeing her father murdered before her eyes and be stronger for it, right? And a little girl couldn't...wouldn't ID her father's killer. The shock would make that impossible. It had to. Everything was fine.*
It was just business. *Natasha scolds herself out loud as she moves quickly down the street, completely unaware someone's watching her.*
Clint: *His eyes were on her the whole entire time. Following her every movement through the rooftops. He wasn't going to show himself just yet. He'd make sure that her mess was taken care of. Though for now he was just going to follow her. The next stop she makes he'd drop down to take care of her. Or take care of her now...*
Tasha: *she's too wrapped up in convincing herself everything would be fine to notice the things she should be. Her head stays down as she moves along the sidewalk, looking casual in spite of how closely this latest job has hit her. She's read the file. The little girl's mother died giving birth. Her father was all she had and now there was nothing.
Nothing. Because of what the Black Widow had done for money. A huge amount of money, but money nonetheless.
She decided a shortcut through an alley is the best course. Already the police are combing the area for witnesses. It's best to stay under the radar.*
Clint: *He continues to follow her and narrows his eyes. To be honest he didn't like the idea of executing anyone but he'd do whatever needed to be done. Do his assignment and then go about his day. So when she starts down through the alley, he notches the arrow in his bow and lets it flow. He doesn't let it hit her but it comes damn close to it.*
Tasha: *she hears it before she sees it, throwing herself against a brick wall to avoid the shot that wasn't meant to hit her. Her head tilts as she looks at the arrow embedded in the side of a metal dumpster. Her guns were out in a heartbeat, the billowing trenchcoat shed to reveal a black dress that left very little to the imagination. Still, she moved with a speed and grace most women in little black dresses and heels could never manage. She looked at the arrow, deducing the angle before she turned and aimed her gun where the archer should be standing.*
HEY! *she shouted upwards* If you want to play, come out and play! * with the mood she was in she could so do with killing some asshole who tried to kill her*
Clint: *when she looks up he's not there to see. He's better than that. However, he notices her weapons... the dress... but that doesn't stop him. Coming down from the roof on the other side he notches another arrow pointing it at her. If he wanted to kill her, he could've.*
Natasha Romanoff, someone has a bone to pick with you.
Tasha: *she fires in the direction of the voice, which is stupid and reckless but in her defense it's been a hell of a night. She's not on her A game.*
You're going to have to narrow that list down, Legolas. You could be talking about at least a dozen people in this city alone.
Clint: SHIELD.
*simple and to the point. It was them that had a bone to pick with her. Especially after her little mission.*
They want you dead.
Tasha: *she smirks, acting very proud of herself, though she's anything but* No wonder the payment was so good.
*she continues to hide out behind the brick wall* SHIELD sent one man to kill me? I guess they don't want me dead that badly.
Clint: *the archer doesn't say a word and narrows his eyes, firing off another arrow close to where she was, this one completely different from the others he'd fired off. It exploded a bit of the wall*
You didn't like what you did on that mission either.
Tasha: *she covers her face with her arms and spins around to another wall for coverage. This guy is REALLY getting on her nerves and what he says doesn't help.She shouts back at him.* It was just a job!
Clint: *he doesn't believe her. Not one damn bit* If it were just a job then it wouldn't be bothering you so much and I'd be dead already.
Tasha: *see, now that just pissed her off. She comes out from cover, both weapons drawn though she hasn't let herself calm down enough to figure out where he is. This could get her killed...and she honestly doesn't care* COME OUT AND SAY THAT TO MY FACE!
Clint: *Oh he comes out alright. Right behind her which just so happens to show him that she's not on her A game. His arrow is right at her back, his eyes narrowed*
That job bothered you. It shows in the way you hold your guns, the way you hold even yourself... That wasn't just a job to you. It bothered you.
Tasha: *she freeze the second the tip of that arrow presses against her back. The Black Widow slowly lifts her arms out so he can see both guns before she drops them to the ground, not saying a single word. Yet.
The fact he's RIGHT makes her head slump, her eyes close for a moment before she folds her hands against the back of her head in a gesture of surrender. Most of this is an act but part of it's real. He doesn't need to know that though.*
Clint: *Unfortunately for her he's not stupid. That arrow presses a bit deeper against her back, his eyes narrowing* Was it just for the money then? *Not that he really gives a damn why she did it. He had his orders but there was something about the woman that just... he honestly didn't know.*
Tasha: *she growls at the point of the arrow digging into her skin. She's already cut to bits from the shattered wall. Why doesn't he just move so she can take the opportunity to break his fucking neck already!?*
YOU couldn't begin to understand why I did it.
Clint: Oh I understand more than you think. *sorry, Tasha, he's not going anywhere. Nor is that arrow that's at your back* I've killed before just like you and they gave me something better.
Tasha: *She swallows, loudly enough that he should be able to hear it in spite of the rain still pouring down. It's washing the blood from her injuries away but they still burn like crazy*
And you're going to kill again, for their /better/ reasons. *her head turns then, and even though it makes the arrow dig harder into her back. She meets his eye, her voice picking up a harsh Russian bite* So do it.
Clint: *those eyes bore into hers when she meets his eyes* I do what needs to be done. Question is do you really want to die? *it goes against what SHIELD wants him to do but...*
Tasha: *she can't look away, either. Ordinarily someone so foolish to even consider giving her a seconds time would end up a crumpled heap of a corpse on the ground before they could voice a word of protest. Why is he still alive, damn it!?
Her chin tilts up as she swallows again, never blinking as her eyes start to look a little wetter. Why'd he have to ask her that of all things?*
Yes. I want to die.
*It's true, now that she really thinks about it*
Clint: *the fact that she was admitting... Somehow that didn't set right with him. It shouldn't of bothered him but it did. Why the hell did it?*
Why?
Tasha: *she glares, her tone venomous.* You think you know me so well? Figure it out. *she's still trying to shake him up, but if he did kill her, she would be alright with it. Funny thing, her mind.*
Clint: Why don't you tell me why. *it's said a bit ground out, arrow digging into her back a bit more. There was just something about her. He couldn't kill her.*
Tasha: *she doesn't flinch, even though turning so she can look him dead in the eyes will surely make that arrow tear through her skin* Because she's an orphan now. Because of ME!
Clint: I know good and well what it means. So you want to die rather than make things right?
Tasha: He's DEAD. *stated as if Clint is an idiot* I can't make things right.
Clint: You can make things right. By fighting on the right side. *he's more than serious despite her wanting death*
Tasha: *sorry but she's just going to laugh at you now. So much so it sounds like she's crying. She's not...honestly* That's not possible.
Clint: It is possible. I know that it is. *its said firmly even as he ignores that laugh* I know a way that you can.
Tasha: Why should what you know matter to me? *even so, there's something in her voice. Hope, perhaps*
Clint: Do you want to fight for something good or do you want to keep killing people, getting their blood on your hands? *it's said pretty damn close to her but he keeps that arrow on her.*
Tasha: *she knows he's close, so close she can feel him breathing on the back of her neck when he speaks. Blood on her hands? He's got no idea, and it only makes her feel that much more desperate. She doesn't care if the arrow goes of when she does it. Natasha acts as fast as a cat, using her own forehead to try and knock into his and get him off guard*
Clint: *more than he has on his more than likely. However, he's not expecting her to try and do something like that, though he should've. Unfortunately that knock to his head has him losing the grip on the arrow and it goes flying at her. Unfortunately because of how she pulled away it goes straight into her stomach.*
Tasha: *She expected that. The Black Widow has made peace with the fact she's dying today, but like hell is she's not taking him with her. She takes his arrow in a fortunate location, nothing's going to rupture but she'll bleed out sooner than later. More than enough time to give him a proper ass kicking and then some. She skids back, her eyes narrowing dangerously. She has absolutely nothing left to lose.
Trouble is, that arrow won't fucking break when she tries. Oh well, she can kill him with an arrow in her guts. It's not like he hit her legs. She flips onto her hands, though it's markably slower than usual, and twists her legs around his neck. Shouldn't take much to crack the right bones so she can die in peace, should it?*
Clint: *Any other day and he would've been afraid that she was going to snap his neck. Break it right in two. After everything he's been through with the circus and the rest of his past, he would probably be like her. Welcoming death. Not that his handler would be too happy over it.
Reaching up he grabs her legs in a tight grip to pry her off of him*
Let me get you help.
*He doesn't care how it sounds to anyone around them. Then again he also needed to get her off of him long enough to call for help so she didn't die on him. Yes, the mission was to kill her but he didn't want her dead.*
Tasha: *it doesn't take much to get her off him, actually. She's weakened, emotionally and physically. The Black Widow just doesn't have her usually bloodthirsty murderous rage. He removes her, and she lands, miraculous, on her side. Not driving the arrow any further in but it hurts like hell. She lets out a cry of pain before kicking at him.*
I don't need anyone's HELP!
*She notices then one of the guns she dropped earlier. In a moment it's in her hand and aimed right for his head*
Clint: *between the time it takes for her to land on her side and go for her gun, he's already put a hand to his ear to radio in back up. A medical extraction. However, when he does get that gun pointed at his head, he points an arrow straight at hers.*
You do need help. If you want to help that orphaned girl in any way, you do.
Tasha: *She's got blood in her mouth by now, her vision growing fuzzy from the injuries of brick wall piece that sliced her up and his arrow. Not to mention that fall. The blood splatters when she shouts.*
Fuck! You!
*She fires at him, or rather two damned feet to the side of him doing no damage whatsoever. The gun clatters to the ground again as she starts laughing, a mixture of anger, relief and tears tainting it. Her eyes focus for just a moment, long enough for her mutter three little words as she starts to fade.*
Just kill me.
*She's begging here, as evident but the additional 'last' word*
Please.
Clint: *he doesn't even so much as flinch when she fires at him. Not that she's not good because she is but because she's lost quite a bit of blood. He ignores her pleas for him to kill her and goes to her side, staying by it the whole time that medical does show up. Taking them both back to SHIELD.
He needs to be checked out as was required post mission and he's done his damnedest to keep close to her there too. That way no one pulls anything stupid. Even if he knows that he disobeyed an ordered. Changed his mission from execute to bringing her back alive.*