18 CHAPTER 18

Natasha who was lying on the bed suddenly woke up with no indication.

She was sweating and hyperventilating as her memories slowly returned of why she lost consciousness.

She started to take deep breaths and calmed down within minutes.

As this was going on the door to her room opened and Andrew came in.

The moment Andrew entered he saw Natasha sitting on the bed but he noticed she was sweating continuously.

Panic rose in his heart as he saw her open her eyes and looking at him fear rose in her heart.

"Calm down, Natasha, it's me, not someone else," said Andrew as he neared her.

Natasha knew that it was Andrew but she kept seeing that figure behind him even though it was not there right now.

"What was that, Andrew?" she asked.

"I don't know. I felt the same thing that happened the day when we reached here," replied Andrew.

'He does not know about that silhouette. He remembers only that he lost control like the last time,' she thought.

"When I was losing my consciousness, I saw a being behind you. It was terrifying Andrew. The eyes were like black holes wanting to devour everything," Natasha said.

Andrew was shocked to hear Natasha. He does not understand what she was talking about.

'A being? Eyes that want to devour everything? What is this? Could it be the Outsider coming out or could it be a manifestation of my rage which wanted to devour Zavez and everything he deems worthy of happiness?'

His thoughts started to run and he did not notice Barton entering the room.

He saw Natasha was awake and he sighed in relief. Then he turned to Andrew who was consumed in his thoughts and called out to him.

"Andrew, are you alright?" a concerned Barton asked.

This brought Andrew out of his thoughts.

"I am sorry, Natasha. I will not let this happen again." Andrew apologized.

"This is not a problem for me Andrew. You will have to control whatever you can do in the moments of Rage. If you let it control you and you do not even realize that is happening will lead to something you will regret later." Natasha said seriously.

Andrew gave a nod to her words as what she said was true. If he is not able to control it then he might do something he will regret later.

'The black like being, it should be the energy of the void. I can manipulate Void through Blink, Dark Vision, and other abilities but there are times when it manifests due to my rage and hatred. It's like the Void answers to those feelings and I will have to control my feelings to feel the Void Energy.'

Andrew's thoughts stopped as he saw Natasha getting out of bed. He helped her as it has been two days since she was sleeping and will be weak.

"Why do I feel weak?" Natasha questioned the men in the room.

"It's been 2 days since you lost consciousness," said Andrew.

Natasha was shocked to know that.

"2 days?!"

"Yes. Your body condition was normal it was more like your mind drained completely after what happened," said Barton.

"And I also extended our stay for 2 more days," Barton said.

Natasha thanked him and with their help, she was now in the Dining Room eating breakfast.

Barton got a call and went out.

He soon came back in and called Andrew.

"Your equipment will soon be here," said Barton.

"Did you not say it will take a minimum of 3 days?" asked Andrew a bit confused.

"I thought the same but it seems Fury pulled the strings to send it to you fast," replied Barton.

Andrew sighed and asked, "What does he want?"

Barton looked at Andrew and started to speak, "He wants your help one time when in need. His reasons are a bit accurate for that request as well. He did send me to help you out, he let you stay in my home, and know he is helping with your equipment as well. Due to this, he says you owe him one."

Andrew said, "He did not help me. You did it out of your violation and that is not something he can use to ask me to help him one time. I told you previously I am not going to answer to orders and I never will, ask Fury to keep that in mind. The equipment, I can get it from somewhere else if I wanted to and there are many places I can go for it. Why bother I can even make them."

Barton sighed as heard Andrew. He knew that Andrew was right and Fury just wanted to use him in any way he can, this being Fury not knowing about Andrew's abilities. If he knew about it then there will be a whole other fiasco that will take place. He also hated how Fury wanted to use what he had done for his benefit but he cannot oppose him as he was the one who gave him this place and removed the records from the world that he even had a family.

"Then do like this, keep an open mind and act only when it is necessary. Don't answer all his calls and answer only to the one you deem fit. It is just one time and if he asks you to do something that crosses your principle don't bother with it and stop it if you can." Barton said.

He took a breath and continued, "And I know that Fury is not a fool and he will not ask you to do a mission that crosses your principles. There are also talks about a new initiative though I don't know what it is called. Maybe he is trying to rope you into this initiative. Maria will be the one coming to deliver the equipment maybe you can ask her."

'Hmm… A new initiative? He wants to rope me in using the supposed favor that he is saying. Does he not even consider what I have been through and have I not been clear about everything?'

"Is he delusional? I have repeatedly let him know I won't join and I won't listen to him and why does he keep pushing me?"

This was not the first time that Andrew and Barton had conversed regarding Nick Fury. This started a week after Andrew had lived with the Bartons.

Every single time Andrew rejected Fury and he still does not stop trying to rope him in.

Barton sighed and hope Fury stops asking him to pester Andrew with this. Not only does this put Fury in a bad picture but the relationship he has with Andrew will also be tested again and again by Andrew, and one day he might just disappear which he does not want to happen.

"This will be the last time I am asking you this and just give me yes or no," Barton said and Andrew could see it on his face.

"No. That is my final answer," Andrew said with resolve.

"I will never talk about this again and even if Fury asks me, I will directly say no to him myself. You don't need to worry about this from now on," Barton replied.

"Thanks, Clint," Andrew thanked him and Barton knows that when Andrew calls him Clint, he acknowledges what he is doing.

"Maria knows about your family?" questioned Andrew.

"Yes, including her, you, Natasha, and Fury. Only you four know about my family," said Barton.

Andrew could not help but worry.

"You sure about that?" a tinge of worry could be seen in his tone.

"Yes, don't worry," said Barton.

They then began to talk about something else but were disturbed as they could see a quinjet in the sky.

Soon the Quinjet landed close to Barton's one and Maria Hill came out from it.

She should be around 28 to 33 in age and Andrew could tell that the woman is someone who uses her brain more than action.

She came and stood in front of Andrew. She held a briefcase and a file in her left hand and extended her right toward him.

"It's pleasure to meet you, Mr. Andrew," Hill greeted.

Andrew shook her hands and acknowledged her.

"This is the suitcase containing what you need," she said.

"I believe I am going to hear a but, in that statement," Andrew said and Barton chuckled and held his laugh.

"Yes, Mr. Andrew, 'But' you would have to sign this document to avail them," she said opening the file and taking a document out of it.

Andrew did not bother taking it at all and just looked at her with no emotions. She could not even think of what is going on in Andrew's mind due to this.

"Mr. Andrew?" she called out.

Andrew started to walk past her and did not bother with the suitcase or the file. He wanted to ask about the initiative that Barton talked about just for namesake but decided not to as they would think he was showing interest in it.

"I am going to train, Barton, if dinner is ready let me know," he said and walked away.

Hill though looking calm on the outside had anger in her heart which she did not show.

"Is this how he is?" asked Maria as the anger was evident in her tone.

"Yes, and since Fury has been continuously asking him, he got fed up," Barton said.

Maria calmed down and gave handed the suitcase to Barton.

Barton was confused and took the suitcase into his hands.

"What? Give it to him…" she said.

Barton had question marks on his face.

Maria chuckled and spoke, "That document thing was a fake though he was rude… and do tell him the sleep injection works fine."

Barton smiled and rushed to Andrew.

He went to his training ground as that is where Andrew is now most of the time other than spending time with Scarlet or his family.

Andrew was working out and he could see Barton enter as he had his Dark Vision active.

This had become a routine for him as he wanted to know whether he can go to the next level actively using it but it has not yet happened and only time will tell.

He deactivated the Dark Vision and saw Barton open the door and enter with the suitcase Maria had brought with her.

Without him realizing a smile grew on his face, a cold smile.

He stopped working out as Barton was now standing in front of him.

"Did you have to do that?" he asked.

"I didn't have to but I just didn't like it," Andrew replied.

"Well, here you go and one more thing, the Sleep Dart which you named yesterday works fine," Barton said excitedly.

"Why are you excited?" asked Andrew.

"Open it. I want to see how it looks," Barton said.

Andrew took the suitcase which Barton handed to him and placed it on a table.

He opened the locks on the suitcase and what greeted him was the Mask.

The Mask was made using the Titanium Alloy with a combination of Gold in it. The composition of Gold was less compared to the Titanium Alloy.

The Mask is modeled after a Human Skull and it was painted in Black.

What Andrew wanted to show through the Mask was Fear and Terror to his enemies and now they will.

Barton who was by his side, when he saw the Mask, he felt fear rise in him.

He then saw the outfit with various areas in it to place his gadgets like guns, Sleep Darts, his sword, and other things which can even include grenades and stuff.

He then saw the sleep dart. It was a dart which has a drug that Andrew created that will make the targets render unconscious.

The next he saw was the Sword. It was made with Carbon Steel and was painted in gray with the handle being black.

He saw Andrew take the sword in his hands and played with it.

He was easily able to fold the sword through a maneuver or by pressing a button that will make the sword go inside the handle and leave the edge out a bit.

He then saw Andrew take the hidden blade and attach it to his left arm.

Andrew moved his left arm forward in a fast motion as the hidden blade came out and he moved it back and it went in.

He kept doing this until he got a hand at what speed the blade comes out.

He then took the Crossbow that was in there and attached an arrow to it and motioned it.

He started to repeatedly shoot out as he lodged one after another in the crossbow.

He placed everything back in the suitcase and closed it.

Andrew took the suitcase and went inside another room.

Barton was waiting and the door opened within a few minutes.

As it opened, he saw a coat of his armor covering him then he saw the crossbow to the right of Andrew's waist then the door opened fully.

He saw the sword hanging to the left of Andrew's waist.

He saw Andrew holding the mask in his left hand.

Barton's eyes followed it as Andrew moved his left hand towards his face.

As the Mask attached itself to his face, Barton felt himself zooming out and what he saw was Terror.

Terror was the apt definition he could give and feel as Andrew radiated it.

He felt terror as he saw a small black smoke covering him as he walked forward which shook him to his core. Though he knew that was Andrew, he could not help but fear as Andrew was coming close to him.

Andrew stood in front of him and Barton felt a mountain of pressure radiating all over.

Andrew seeing this removed his mask which made Barton sigh in relief.

"Even though I knew that was you but I could help but feel terror rising in me, as you walked toward me," Barton said as he took a deep breath.

Andrew saw his mask and felt a connection as he knew now the Mask did the job he wanted it to.

"When are you starting?"

"The Old Man used to say when I was young if you wanted to do something don't say you will do it tomorrow because you won't. Do it now and rest satisfied knowing that you did it."

"Today then?"

"Today it is."

"After Dinner or now?"

"After Dinner and after the kids' sleep. Let the night be a good sleep to them but be the terror for the ones I am after."

"Place the equipment here you can take them later," Barton said and started to move out.

Andrew did not do that and placed them in the inventory.

He walked out and saw that the sunlight had died down and the moon had taken over it.

He saw his wife and his daughter Emma on the moon and clenched his fists.

"I am coming, Zavez."

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