AUGUST

August was wide awake staring at the ceiling not thinking about anything in particular. She glanced to her left where Kala was sleeping peacefully.

Her phone buzzed from Kala's nightstand, a soft sigh escaped August lips as she checked her phone.

It was a message from Yelena.

I could use a bit of help if you're up for it.

Followed by a pinged location.

August rubbed her forehead, contemplating for a few seconds before ultimately deciding that she would be a good friend.

She quietly stood up from Kala's bed and slid her shirt back over her head before slowly collecting the rest of her scattered clothing.

August thought about leaving the barista a note or something but ultimately decided that it was probably a one time thing.

She pulled her hair back into a sort of sloppy braid and stole one last glance around the apartment, verifying that she wasn't forgetting anything.

"You're really gonna leave in the middle of the night without saying anything?" Kala stood in the doorway of the room, her tone slightly judgmental.

"In my defense you did say, casual. I assumed it was a one time thing and my best friend basically texted me an S.O.S. message, so—"

"You're cute when you ramble," Kala smiled, "And yes, I said casual but that doesn't necessarily mean a one time thing."

The blue haired girl approached August so that the two were only inches apart, "Maybe we can do this again sometime?"

August leaned forward connecting their lips, "Could be fun," she breathed.

"Here," Kala handed August her phone, "type in your number, I'll be in touch."

"Okay," August nodded, accepting the phone.

In a couple of seconds she handed the phone back to Kala, "I really do have to go though."

"I know," Kala nodded accepting the phone, "I'll see you later, ok?"

August nodded, picking her jacket back up and sliding it on over her shoulders.

"You don't look super prepared to be here," Yelena teased, as her best friend approached her.

"I didn't have time to stop at the apartment." August scoffed, "Plus I have stuff in this bag, I just need to change."

Yelena quirked an eyebrow at her, "Where were you?"

"...at a friend's?"

"Oh my gosh," Yelena looked at her, "Who?"

August pressed her lips together, "You know the barista with the curly blue hair?"

Yelena's mouth fell open, "You were spending the night with the blue haired barista?"

"Shut it, Lena." August threatened, "I'm here to help you, so—"

"Yeah, yeah," Yelena shook her head.

August turned around to change into her suit, "So, what exactly is it that I'm here to help you with."

"Well there's three of them and one of me." Yelena stated, "I wouldn't want to be outnumbered."

"Who are they that you can't hold your own?" August asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

Yelena gasped, "If I had to I would definitely hold my own, I just want some emotional support from my best friend."

"Ok, are you going to tell me what's really going on here?" August asked, her tone slightly more gentle.

Yelena swallowed, not particularly wanting to face her friend, "My high profile target? Valentina basically handed the man who killed my sister to me on a silver platter."

"She did what?" August turned quickly to face Yelena.

"Clint Barton." Yelena sighed, "He killed Natasha."

August studied Yelena very carefully, so Yelena continued, "I know that you don't like getting involved in shit like that...but I really need you."

The brunette swallowed, Yelena was right she preffered to stay out of the way when it came to revenge schemes.

However, she couldn't justify another friendship falling apart because of that.

"Okay," August nodded, "But you're absolutely positive that he did it?"

Yelena nodded, "What reason is there to doubt Valentina?"

August shrugged, "Sometimes people have ulterior motives."

"I have to believe her, it's all I've got."

"God this could really fuck up my recruiting job," August shook her head, "Killing an Avenger probably won't look very good to Jo."

Yelena cracked a small smile, "I'm sure you'll figure something out, you always do."

JOSEPHINE

"Your girlfriend acts like a child," Barton grumbled as Kate waltzed right into the building offering to carry an older man's groceries.

"Only when she's trying to get something she wants," Josephine smiled.

"Which is like what? All the time?"

After a minute or so she was on the correct floor, "What do you do about this giant bow problem?"

"I have a collapsible one." He pulled the binoculars away from his face.

"Oh, that makes sense," Kate replied her voice growing softer, "Ok, I'm at the door."

Josephine peered in the direction of the darkened apartment, "We're good."

It was difficult for Josephine, not being able to see exactly what was happening where Kate was. She knew for a fact that her girlfriend didn't have much experience in this world.

And Josephine...well she had almost too much experience.

Not that Kate knew that. The brunette archer had inquired where Josephine learned how to do some of the things she did but she usually just brushed it off.

"Living room is clear." Kate informed but then she cursed under her breath and all Josephine could hear was the whisk of two arrows.

"What was that?" Josephine questioned nervously.

"I don't know," Kate whispered, "There are like strobe lights attached to the walls."

"Strobe lights?" Clint asked, "What do you mean strobe lights?"

"I don't know." She bite out.

"Yeah, what do you see?" Clint asked.

"What am I looking for?"

"A watch. Vintage Rolex. Belongs to someone I used to work with." Clint informed.

Josephine narrowed her eyes at the man, trying to decipher specifically how important this person was to him.

"Is that the whole story, Clint?" Kate asked.

"They've been out of the game a long time...but their identity is still attached to that watch."

"And if the Tracksuits find out about it?"

"It would blow their cover. Goodbye friend." Clint spoke pointedly.

"Got the watch." Kate stated.

Josephine watched as relief washed over Clint. Clearly his friend was very important to him.

"Great."

"Hang on a minute..." Kate trailed off and Josephine's heart dropped slightly.

"Clint, somebody is taking notes on your family." Kate informed.

"What?"

"Clint Barton. Wife, Laura. Daughter, Lila. Age 14. Son, Cooper. Age 16. Son, Nate—"

"Babe, you need to get out of there, right now." Josephine instructed, interrupting the woman.

"What? Why?" Kate asked quickly surveying her surroundings.

This time Clint interrupted, "That light's an alarm. It's a silent alarm for people that can't hear."

"Oh my God."

"It's Maya's apartment. All right, I'm coming—"

Someone attacked him from behind. Josephine attempted to help him, attacking the other person but the individual was simply really quick.

"Maya's here." Kate panted from the other side of the earpiece.

"Yeah, Kate." Josephine breathed, "We can see that."

"Then why didn't you tell me?" Kate winced.

"I did. Maya's on the roof with us." Clint breathed, before kicking at the person in front of him.

"No. Maya is definitely here."

"Well who the hell am I fighting then?" Clint panted.

"A little help?"

"Incoming, get on the zip line."

AUGUST

She winced when she first realized where they were. It was the building across from Maya's apartment.

Yelena pointed out where Clint was, on the rooftop of the building next to them.

"Kate must be inside," August pointed out quietly.

"Which means that the other two probably aren't going anywhere." Yelena concluded.

August nodded, her eyes carefully watching the two people, "So, what's the plan?"

"I need you to distract Kate." Yelena stated, "Keep her in the apartment as long as possible."

"Got it," August nodded, "Please don't break Josephine while this is all going on...Valentina would be pissed at both of us."

Yelena let out a small laugh, "Ok."

Nerves fluttered in August's stomach as she approached Maya's apartment building for the first time since they broke up.

She hoped to god that Maya wasn't going to show up before the night was over. August had been the one to say that she moved on and now here she was.

She slipped in the door behind an older lady and took the steps up to Maya's floor. August counted the numbers on the doors as though she hadn't passed through the hallway a hundred times.

Just as she was about to reach Maya's apartment she was pushed against the wall.

A soft gasp escaped her lips as her back hit the wall. Just as she was about to fight back her eyes met the other set of brown eyes.

August's eyes studied Maya's face about to shove away from her when the woman took a step or two back.

"There's someone in there," Maya signed quickly.

August took a deep breath, the air feeling a lot less heavy now that Maya wasn't so close, "I know."

"What are you doing here?" Maya questioned, her eyebrows furrowed.

"My job." August explained plainly, making it evident that she was not in any way there to see Maya.

"What exactly is your job, August?" Maya signed .

The brunette shoved past Maya, "The girl in there hasn't done anything wrong."

"She broke into my apartment." Maya pointed out and August rolled her eyes, "And you still didn't answer my question."

August let out a frustrated sigh, "That's because it's none of your business."

"Yeah well it is my apartment."

August shook her head, "I don't have time to bicker with you."

She waltzed over to Maya's door and quietly opened it.