Clark's apartment was quiet. Peaceful. The kind of peace he had longed for after everything quiet nights spent with Natasha, sharing simple meals, walking through the city. For a few weeks, he had felt like he was starting to heal, starting to live.
Natasha was across the room, sorting through some papers, her back to him as the low hum of the TV filled the room. Clark watched her for a moment, the warm glow of the lamp casting gentle shadows across her face. She had a way of making everything feel normal. She was his anchor, his calm in a world that still felt so strange.
He stretched out on the couch, his legs draped over the side, the pages of a book open in his lap. They had just finished dinner, and now, he was content to enjoy the silence. They had both earned it after long days. Life had been good, lately. Quiet. Normeal.
That is, until the ringing of Natasha's phone cut through the stillness.
Clark's gaze shifted as she reached for it, noticing the slight tension in her movements. Natasha answered without hesitation, but her voice immediately shifted, becoming more guarded. Something about her posture the way her shoulders stiffened, the slight narrowing of her eyes told him this wasn't just a casual call.
"Fury," Natasha said, her voice calm but with a hard edge Clark had learned to recognize. "What's going on ?
Clark sat up, instinctively sensing the change in her demeanor. He could tell the conversation wasn't something she had been expecting, and the sense of urgency in the room made him uneasy.
She listened for a moment, her eyes flicking over to him, but her expression remained neutral, the hint of concern behind her gaze betraying her usual composure. Clark's gut twisted. Something was wrong.
Her eyes darkened as she listened to Fury's voice on the other end of the line. "What do you mean compromised?" Natasha's tone was sharp now, the controlled military professionalism slipping through. "How bad is it ?
Clark's instincts were on high alert. He knew better than to ignore that gut feeling, and it was telling him that whatever was happening on the other end of the phone, it wasn't good.
Natasha remained silent for a few more beats, her lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, she spoke again, her words clipped. "Yeah. Got it. I'll do what I can.
She hung up the phone and stood up from the couch, turning to face Clark. Her jaw was set, her usual calm replaced with something darker.
Clark raised an eyebrow. "What's going on ?
Natasha hesitated for a moment, then walked over to where he stood, her gaze steady but somber. "I need your help," she said, the words coming out slowly, as though she was carefully choosing them.
"Help with what?" Clark's voice was wary, his gaze scanning her face for any sign of what she wasn't saying.
"My friend Natasha began, her voice quiet. "A friend who saved my life once. His name's Clint Barton
Clark frowned, not recognizing the name. He wasn't familiar with anyone named Clint Barton, but he could see the weight in her eyes when she spoke of him. This wasn't just about a mission. This was personal.
"Clint," she continued, "has been compromised. He's… he's gone off the grid. Fury's not sure who's got him, but we can't wait. They've got something on him, and we need to find him before it's too late."
Clark felt a knot form in his stomach. He could see the concern in Natasha's eyes. It wasn't just another mission to her. This was someone she cared about. Someone who meant something to her.
"Wait Clark said, his voice cautious. "Who is he? What do you mean 'compromised ?
Natasha closed her eyes for a moment, her expression softening before she turned back to face him. "Clint is one of the good ones. He's the guy who pulled me out of a situation I never thought I could escape from." Her voice dropped to a quiet whisper, but the weight of her words still carried through. "He saved my life, Clark. More than once. And now, he's in danger. We need to get to him before they use him against us."
Clark took a step closer, trying to process the rush of emotions flooding through him. He hadn't been prepared for this. He had been content so content to let the world outside his door stay far away. But now, the reality of Natasha's request was sinking in. This wasn't just a mission. This wasn't just her work. This was her f riend.
"You need to bring him back," Clark said, his voice low but steady. "But why me? Why do you need me for this?
Natasha's expression turned serious, her lips pressing together in a tight line. "Because I need someone who can get to him. Someone who can be there when everything falls apart. Fury's going to put together a team to track him down, but Clint's not going to be easy to find. And when we do find him, we need to be prepared for anything.
Clark frowned, torn between the life he had built here with Natasha and the one that had been forced upon him so many times before. He didn't want to go back into the chaos, into the mess of being a hero again. But this… this wasn't just about him. This was about Natasha, and about the people she cared for.
"Do you think this is the right time for this?" Clark asked, his voice betraying a trace of frustration. "I've been trying to build a life here. A normal life.
"I know," Natasha said softly, her gaze steady on his. "I know. And I wouldn't ask if I didn't have to. But Clint is my responsibility, Clark. And I can't do it alone. I need you. Not just because of your strength, but because I know you understand what it means to protect someone you care about. I trust you. I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't important."
Her words hung heavy between them, and for a moment, Clark stood there, his heart heavy. He didn't want to go back. He didn't want to get involved in another fight. But how could he say no? Natasha had been there for him in ways he couldn't even begin to explain. She'd opened his world up in ways no one else had.
Finally, he exhaled sharply, looking down at the floor for a long moment before meeting her gaze again.
"Alright," he said, his voice firm but reluctant. "We'll do it your way. But I want answers, Natasha. I need to know what we're really walking into.
Natasha nodded, a slight sigh of relief escaping her lips. "I'll tell you everything. But we need to move fast. We can't let Clint fall into the wrong hands.
Clark gave a quick nod, already feeling the weight of the decision settling in his chest. The quiet life he had started to build was now slipping further away. The quiet peace he had craved was over.
But in this moment, he didn't have the luxury of ignoring it. There were people in danger, and he was the only one who could help.