Covert Affair | Natasha Romanoff

Chapter 11: Godzilla?

Zero woke up in and sat in a  wave of numbness, Natasha's face came into focus in front of her, and Zero realized she was in the med bay next to Clint Barton, who was still waking up. Barton was strapped to a hospital bed, his breathing labored as he strained against the bonds.

Natasha moved to sit by Barton's side, her expression filled with concern as she tried to reassure him. "Clint, you're gonna be alright," she said softly.

But Barton's voice was filled with desperation as he spoke, his words tinged with fear and uncertainty. "You know that? Is that what you know? I gotta go in though. I have to flush him out," he insisted.

Natasha gently urged him to calm down, emphasizing that it would take time for him to level out. But Barton's words revealed the depth of his anguish, as he described the torment of having his mind manipulated and replaced by another.

Natasha began to remove the strap restraints, allowing Barton to move more freely. He turned to her with a haunted expression, seeking answers amidst the confusion and pain. "Natasha, how many agents?" he asked, his voice trembling.

But Natasha refused to let Barton dwell on the past, reminding him of the dire threat they faced. "Don't do that to yourself, Clint. This is Loki. This is monsters and magic and nothing we were ever trained for," she replied solemnly.

As Barton expressed his desire to stop Loki, Natasha acknowledged the gravity of their mission. "We gotta stop him," she affirmed, her determination unwavering.

Barton's resolve hardened as he spoke of putting an end to Loki's reign of terror. "If I put an arrow through Loki's eye socket I'd sleep better I suppose," he remarked grimly.

Natasha, however, acknowledged the transformation within herself, revealing the haunting truth of her past. "He didn't, I just—" she began, before Barton interrupted her with a knowing look.

"Natasha," he pressed, his gaze penetrating.

Finally, Natasha confessed the weight of her guilt, the burden of her past sins. "I've been compromised. I got red in my ledger. I'd like to wipe it out," she admitted, her voice heavy with remorse.

Clint's gaze shifted to Jenna, who was still in a dazed state, and he furrowed his brow in concern. "Who is that? What's wrong with her?" he inquired, nodding towards Jenna.

Natasha glanced over at Jenna, a faint smile touching her lips despite the seriousness of the situation. "That's Agent Zero. She just got knocked out three time," she explained, her tone laced with a hint of amusement.

Clint couldn't help but chuckle softly at the irony of the situation. "Three, huh?" he remarked, shaking his head incredulously.

Natasha walks over to tended to the cut on Jenna's head, Jenna looked up at her, concern evident in her gaze. Natasha noticed Jenna's expression and gently asked, "You've never lost someone before, huh?"

Jenna shook her head slowly. "Not really," she admitted quietly.

Finishing up with Jenna's wound, Natasha glanced up to see Jenna extending a hand toward her, offering to help. Despite her own injuries, Natasha smiled faintly at Jenna's gesture. "It's nothing I can't handle," she assured.

Jenna frowned, her determination evident as she grasped Natasha's arm. "Stop being a stubborn ass, sit," she insisted firmly, urging Natasha to let her help.

As Jenna began cleaning the blood off Natasha's wound, Natasha found herself inexplicably breathless, her heart racing as she watched Jenna's gentle movements. The scent of fall and vanilla surrounded them, enveloping Natasha in a comforting embrace. She couldn't help but notice how close Jenna was to her, their faces mere inches apart as if time had slowed down just for them.Natasha felt a strange flutter in her chest, her thoughts momentarily clouded by the intensity of the moment.