“Clinton Francis Barton! On behalf of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, I arrest you for denying the command of your superiors and helping a fugitive assassin and threat to this country! I warn you, we were given the order to shoot if necessary. You will come with us for the well-being of yourself, or you will be taken and not asked a second time.”
Clint could see the satisfaction in the eyes of the other agent. Without saying anything, he grabbed the shocked Natasha’s hand and jumped off the roof, landing on a car, and from there, into the cold water of the Danube. The enemy didn’t even have time to act, he only shot angrily after them without success.
As the icy water hit her body, Natasha froze for a second, but her survival instincts kicked in, telling her body to swim fast. She reached a fancy cruise ship and climbed onto the deck. People were enjoying their late dinner at elegant tables. Luckily, no one noticed the wet, trembling girl. Suddenly, she saw Clint, already standing on the lower shore, looking for her.
After they met, they started to run in the shadows until they reached a subway station. Clint could still hear how the agents were ordered to follow them, but quietly, so the Hungarian authorities wouldn’t suspect anything. Clint frowned in disgust: always these super-secret things. They ran through a crowded station, continuing their way in the tunnel. Natasha thought that this was a bad idea, because the risk of getting ironed by a fast subway coach was floating in the air.
When they reached a metallic door, Clint stepped on a rock, reaching the vent on the ceiling. With a jump, he made his way into into the ventpipe, then helped Natasha get in.
“You good?” he asked.
“Yeah, sure. This was nothing compared to my adventures.”
After a few moments of catching their breath, Natasha dared to ask with a smirk: “Your second name is serioulsy Francis?”
“I swear on my life I will kick you in front of the next coach.”
The tunnel was dark, except for some weak neon lights. Everything smelled of smoke, oil and typical “Budapest common transport”. The air was suffocating; dust covered the vents. Luckily, none of the two exhausted fugitives had any allergies, as it seemed like they would stay there for the next 24 hours.
After Natasha’s eyes had got used to the dark, she noticed a big gash on the agent’s face, who clearly tried to hide it. She slowly took out a piece of paper from her pocket, along with a small bottle. Without even trying to ask, she cleared the gash and put the paper on it like a plaster.
“Great, are we having a party? This smells like…”
“Like some alchoolic drink I borrowed from a police officer at the border?”
“Borrowed? Then shouldn’t you return it?”
“Why would a dead man need anything?”
“Congratulations, you’ve just insulted Jack Sparrow. He drank after he got the curse. By the way, you must watch Pirates of the Caribbean, maybe you’ll learn how not to be so serious.”
“How can you speak about movies at this moment?”
“Why not, Grumpy Cat? Or Grumpy Spider?”
“Only Black Widow to you, Francis.”
“Nice to meet you. Now, would you be so kind and not even mention my second name, please?”
Only a faded “Hmm…” was the answer. Natasha fell asleep extremely quickly. Clint watched her, then closed his eyes. If his plan works, maybe they will be given a new chance to do their job and guard the world from real threats.
Balázs-Blénessi-Pataki Kincső VIII. C
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