ʙᴇʟᴀʀᴜs-ʀᴇᴅ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴀᴄᴀᴅᴇᴍʏ

Inhale. The sanitized air fills my nose as I begin to stretch. I carry the invisible string down from my toes through my core to the tips of my fingers. Exhale. I reach out to my reflection as my leg stretches behind me, straight as a board, then tips up to touch the back of my head. My eyes shut, taking in my only moment of peace I get throughout the day.

I move to the floor, back to the door, bringing the tip of my nose to my knee as someone enters the studio.

"Zdravstvuyte, Natalia." I say without turning around. (Hello)

"Zoya. Znal, chto naydu tebya zdes." She muses. (Knew I'd find you here)

"Chem ya obyazan etomu udovol'stviyu?" I hum, switching legs. (To what do I owe the pleasure)

"We have our next assignment." She says, her tone stoic.

"Mmm, where?" I hope it's somewhere nice.

"Budapest." Interesting.

"How long?"

"Shouldn't take more than three days."

"Make it two." I smirk. She sighs. "You love me." I chime.

"We're allowed five." She adds.

I shrug. "Don't need it." I look up, seeing her shoulders slightly deflate. "Natalia, do you need to sit this out?" She shakes her head. "Are you sick?"

"No." She dismisses.

I sigh this time. "You can't do this." I warn. "He will notice. You must keep it together."

"I know." She says firmly.

I worry about her, though I'm sure she worries far more about me. She is the worrier after all.

But she's starting to slowly slip through the cracks that cannot afford form in the first place.

"Natalia." I tilt my head.

"I got it." She insists.

I blow out a puff of air. I know better than to argue with that tone.

"We leave in two days." She says over her shoulder, heading for the door.

I begin my pirouettes as I watch her figure descend.

➵ ➵ ➵ ➵

I begin sharpening my newly made arrows when Nat joins me, handing me a mug.

"Don't you sleep?" She asks.

"I'll sleep when I'm six feet under." I dismiss with a grin. Truthfully no. I haven't slept for more than two or three hours at a time since I was a child.

I take a sip of the warm liquid, sweetness coating my tongue. "Otvratitel'nyy." I spit it back into the mug. "What is this?" I scrunch my face up. (Disgusting)

"Hot chocolate." She laughs. "Sorry there's no vodka in it." She muses in my misery.

I scoff shoving the drink back over to her. "Why must you hate me." I scoff.

➵ ➵ ➵ ➵

ɴᴇᴡ ʏᴏʀᴋ ᴄɪᴛʏ-s.ʜ.ɪ.ᴇ.ʟ.ᴅ ʜᴇᴀᴅǫᴜᴀʀᴛᴇʀs

Clint Barton sighs, wanting nothing more than a desperate cup of coffee as he heads in for work. With a baby and a toddler at home lack of sleep is becoming more and more familiar to him, not to mention that he was ordered to go straight to Fury's office as soon as he arrived.

"Agent Barton." Nick Fury greets one of his favorites as he slowly turns his chair to face the archer.

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Yes, I did." Fury clears his throat, opening one of his desk drawers. "I have your next mission." He pulls out a file and slides it across the desk, nodding for Clint to take a look.

Without hesitation Clint swipes it up, opening the file to find almost nothing. He flips through the couple pieces of paper hoping to find more.

"That's all we could manage." Fury interrupts his thoughts. "We've gained some intel on the operation based in Russia."

"The female assassins, sir?" Clint checks, taking a seat. S.H.I.E.L.D. has been trying for years to take down the whisper that is the "Red Room" along with two of its most dangerous spy's.

"Widow's as they're called." Fury confirms. "The two we've been trailing for months now, we've finally pinpointed them. They'll be located on a mission in Budapest. Tail them, then take them out. By any means necessary, Barton. These assassins have taken out many of ours throughout Europe and countless more. They've must be taken care of. Understood?"

Clint nods, feeling honored to no end that he was chosen for this mission. "I won't let you down, sir." He stares at the few pictures he was given in the file, mostly of the area he'll be stationed at, but in one he catches a glimpse of what appears to be red hair.

Fury stands, extending his hand out. "That's what I like to hear."

Clint returns the gesture. "How will I know it's them?"

Fury chuckles. "You'll know."

➵ ➵ ➵ ➵

Later that night, Clint finally makes it home, much later than usual, to find Laura putting Lila down for the night.

"Hey." He whispers. "I'm sorry I'm late."

"It's okay." Laura smiles, greeting him with a kiss. "Everything okay?"

Laura's never been able to read Clint's face or body language, being trained to mask it all how could she? But she knows her husband has always tried his hardest to never get home past the kids bedtime, so something must be up.

Clint concentrates hard on the floor, clearing his throat. Laura has never, ever, had a problem with his line of work. Of course she's worried for him, but she's never once made him quit, even when they started their family.

But Clint is not stupid. He knows the stakes of this mission, the sacrifice. He's aware it's the most dangerous one he's been on, and he must go alone. Any more than him and his targets will know. And yet he didn't hesitate, not even for a moment. He had this sixth sense so to speak  that told him to take this mission no matter what. So he did.

"I'm being sent to Budapest." He finally manages out. "Highly top secret mission."

She smiles comfortingly. "When do you leave?"

"Tonight."

➵ ➵ ➵ ➵

Author's Note: Oh my gosh!! After almost 2 years in the making it's finally hereee!!

Y'all have no idea how excited I am for this book omggg. Zoya is one of my top 3 favorite oc's of
mine <3

I'm so ready to get this party started!! Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter, it's only just the beginning so buckle up!! This storyline will be given the attention it deserved!

And feel free to comment your reactions and thoughts!! I love hearing from y'all!