Chapter 1 - Garden Party

AUTHOR'S NOTE / PLEASE READ

Hey everybody! 

Welcome to HARLOVSEN - An Avengers Fanfiction. Before you read the story, please note that there will be a lot of "LANGUAGE!", graphic displays of violence and death and also kidnapping. If you feel uncomfortable with these subjects, please refrain from reading. You have been warned. 

Warning: There might also be a slow-burning romance? Who knows. Read to find out. 

English isn't my first language, so please excuse errors. If you enjoy it, please vote and comment. 

I hope you enjoy the story - here we go.

-FaYeMs

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"Something is coming. Something much bigger than we could ever imagine. We would be fools to think that the increasing appearance of threats over the last years is just a coincidence. I was assigned with the task to protect the earth from whatever there will come and, to be honest, I'm desperate for finding more fighters for our side."

Director Fury earlier words still echoed in Clint's head as he looked out of the window and over the clouds that acted like a white curtain, shielding the earth from his stare.

One by one, the Avengers had listed persons they could be asking, but the longer they had discussed their options, the clearer it had been that none of the propositions would work out.

Thor had offered to bring some of his Asgardian warriors, but after Loki had nearly destroyed New York, Director Fury had not been keen on getting even more extraterrestrials to the earth.

Clint had been silent the whole discussion. From all of the scenarios he'd played through in his head, only one had been reasonable. Still, he'd hesitated. A long time ago, he'd promised to contact her only as a last resort - and only for himself.

Clearing her throat, Natasha made herself noticeable. "Why are you so nervous?" she murmured. Clint frowned. Natasha was the person he trusted his life with, but even she didn't know the person he was aiming for - and their shared past.

"I owe her. She saved my ass more than once," Clint muttered. He curtly met Natashas' eyes. She knowingly nodded and focused on the sky outside.

"Who is she?" Steve asked, attracting Clint's attention. Clint turned around and met Steves' eyes before letting his gaze wander through the Quinjet. Almost everybody had insisted on joining the recruitment, curious about his proposition and the secret person.

"An old friend."

That was all that Clint answered. It was too early to give her identity away. In the wrong hands, information like this could be a deadly promise.

"I am excited to meet the lady who saves asses", Thor gleefully announced. He'd changed his usual Asgardian attire for simple jeans and shirt to, how he called it, mingle with the midgardians.

"And where are we going?" Tony pursed his lips. Since the start of the flight, he'd silently murmured into his earpiece, obviously trying to learn something about Clint's secret person. Of course, without result.

"Germany," Clint curtly answered.

"It'll better be worth it," Tony sighed, making himself comfortable on a bench to take a nap.

"When she says yes, It'll be worth every little bit," Clint retorted before he proceeded to look out of the window.

Bucky sat in one corner of the plane and played with a throwing knife, Tony was snoring, and the rest of the team were sitting around talking and eating. After some time, Clint felt the Quinjet lowering and recognized the familiar surrounding. It's been years since he'd been here for the last time. Almost silently, the jet debarked and the doors opened with a hiss.

They had landed on a small field behind a wooden house. Only a few other shacks stood in the surrounding. It looked like an ordinary everyday neighbourhood.

"Black Forest. Nice," Natasha remarked as she looked around.

Clint straightened his shoulders and started marching towards the house, aiming for a little garden door. His hand hovered over the opener as he turned around again, addressing the group that was walking behind him.

"One more thing. You don't talk unless you are asked to. Tony, are you listening?"

"Sure, Barton. Now hurry, I have things to do." Stark sighed and put his sunglasses back on.

Clint deeply breathed in, trying to win patience. Before opening the small wooden garden door, he sent Tony a last warning look.

"Seems we're lucky. They're all here. Behave everybody", he said, entering a vast backyard. It had changed a lot since he'd been here the last time. Beautiful beds of colourful field thistles and herbs graced the surrounding, and grand trees provided shadows.

"No offence, but you took us to a garden party", Bruce interrupted his thoughts, confused, as he looked around. About ten persons stood in the garden, chatting and laughing. One was preparing a BBQ.

"This is so much more than a garden party." Clint chuckled and moved forwards to where the people stood. All of a sudden, as if they had sensed their presence, they all turned around, instantly stopping in their movements.

"Hey Party People, we are looking for a dangerous person here, but I'm afraid our friend here doesn't know how to use a Navi", Tony exclaimed loudly, pointing at Clint.

In a matter of a second, one of the guys had pulled out a knife and thrown it. It landed only inches beside Tony in a tree with a thud, where it vibrated from the sudden impact.

While Tony speechlessly took off his glasses, Bucky instantly reacted and threw a knife himself at the guy at the grill. The blond effortlessly blocked it with his barbeque tong. The persons in the backyard looked at each other, frowning.

"Dritt. We said, 'No business this weekend'. Who didn't end their mission correctly?" the only girl present sighed. She was maybe in her mid-twenties, relatively small, with alerting green eyes and in a beige summer dress.

"Don't look at me. Those are obviously Americans," the man next to her responded, motioning towards the Avengers. His strong northern accent laced his words, underlining his deep, rough voice.

"I'm sorry for my friends here. We're looking for Katta", Clint spoke up, directing their attention towards him.

"What do you want from her, archer?" Another man addressed him.

"Talking, in the first place," Clint said. It was no surprise that he had immediately concluded that Clint worked with bow and arrow. All of them were experienced fighters.

Suddenly, he heard a dumb grunt. Sam laid on the ground, holding his chest. The Avengers looked at him and a small woman standing next to him - a bat in her hand.

"Clint?" she asked in surprise.

"You know this guy?" the man with the grilling tong yelled.

"Yes," she curtly answered, lowering her bat and making eye contact with Clint.

"I am glad to see you, Clint. But there was no invitation for further guests." Her eyes wandered over to the Avengers, seemingly analyzing them one by one.

"Yes, sorry about that, but we'll need to talk to you, Katta," Clint answered, sending Tony a warning look to prevent him from saying something inappropriate.

"Then come in, but I warn you. No weapons or fighting attempts. This is the first time we have a free day at the same time in over a year." Katta pointed towards the other people in the backyard that had relaxed a bit but still observed the newcomers. The Avengers took seats at a bench while Katta poured some drinks.

"So, you are the Avengers?" she muttered, examining them. Her eyes wandered over the visitors, remaining on each for a second as she began to voice her thoughts.

"What do we have here. Seemingly two soldiers, two assassins, an underwear model, a doctor and what is your purpose?" She looked at Tony and blinked. He returned her glare and put off his sunglasses as if he expected her to recognize him without them. After staying silent for a moment, he spoke up, slight offence noticeable in his words.

"Tony Stark, a.k.a Iron man - billionaire, philanthropist--" Tony puffed his chest out.

"Tony", Steve interrupted him. Tony turned around and accusingly motioned towards Katta.

Thor nudged Natasha beside him. "I like the woman that saves asses."

"Only because she claimed you to be the underwear model," Natasha smirked.

"And who are you?" Tony glared at Katta, not satisfied with the course of conversation. Katta sipped on her beer and smirked to herself.

"I don't think that we know each other well enough to get that personal," she said.

"She is only one of the best assassins in the world", Clint stated, earning a roll from her eyes. He felt Natashas gaze onto him. Right. They weren't here to only have a little chit-chat.

He stood up and motioned for Katta to follow him. She frowned but got up and surrounded the table until stopping in front of him.

"I need you to do us a favour." Clint watched Katta's nose scrunch at his statement.

"Hm, I was wondering when you were coming. This whole alien-attacking thing is difficult, isn't it?" She sighed, rubbing her neck.

"If it just were about aliens, then we would be fine," Clint tried a joke. After she didn't answer, his smile lost its dynamic, and he spoke on. "Is that a yes?"

She closed her eyes, pulling air through her nose. For a second, a glint of hope grew within Clint. Until Katta started shaking her head, meeting his eyes.

"You know I don't work for government institutions."

Of course, he knew. It hadn't been a single meeting without her reminding him.

"Sure, Katta, but this is something different," Clint started reasoning.

"Clint," she exhaled. "I haven't seen you in years. And now you come into my garden, bring a bunch of strangers to a safehouse that we can now vacate and ask me for a favour which you knew I couldn't give you."

Katta shot a look over Clint's shoulder and glanced at the people sitting around the table. None of them she'd met before. Heard of? – Yes. But they were complete strangers.

"I respect you because I know what we've been through, but you're asking too much Clint," she murmured a bit more gentle, but her eyes remained hard. Clint hesitatingly nodded.

"Stay for the BBQ," Katta offered. She patted his shoulder and turned around, approaching the guy at the grill. He gave her a plate and turned the steaks over the fire. Erik Harlovsen. He was the oldest Harlovsen sibling. Clint had seen him once or twice before.

"Come on, Clint, who is she. Who are all of them?" Bucky asked as Clint returned to the table, slumping down on a chair.

"I would guess they belong to the Harlovsens." Natasha looked at Clint, who cautiously nodded. Her eyes grew wide, and she turned her head as if to memorize every single one of them.

"You can't be serious," she snapped, turning back to him. "How come you know them? Nobody knows. Hell, even I tried to find them, but nothing."

"Would please somebody enlighten me?" Tony whispered, making eye contact with the group.

"Call them as you want: The Soldiers, The Death-bringers, The Ghosts. The Harlovsens are probably the best-trained fighters all over the world. Trained in various kinds of combat that includes knife-work and extraordinary shooting skills. They are said to can vanish in a matter of seconds, right before your eyes. And the best: all of them are related. Practically a family business," Natasha explained, not able to entirely hide the awe in her voice. "And we're sitting in their backyard," she added.

"So, you are telling me, all of those--" Sam motioned towards the other persons, "--are related and deadly weapons? Why does it have to be her? Why don't we ask just anybody? What about the muscular BBQ master?"

Clint grunted. "First of all, Katta is the best. I know her. I trust her. Second, all the others are already assigned to different clients. They work as personal security guards for private persons and governments worldwide. Everybody who wants to feel safe hires them. Those who don't fight, evolve security programs, hack satellites and overthrow regimes overnight. I'm sure most of us already fought them without knowing it."

"So what are we doing now? She doesn't want to join us, and as much as I like to believe it. We can't force her to." Tony stood up and straightened his designer suit.

"I would like to stay for a bit. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity", Natasha said, receiving nods.

"Romanov, come get your BBQ," Erik yelled from the grill, waving her over. Natasha shortly scrutinized him before a smile crept on her face.

"Bulgaria, three years ago?" she asked, approaching him.

"You're good," he answered, a smile grazing over his face. "The name's Erik. Or you might have heard of me as Ivan."

"Get yourself together, Erik," Katta scolded her brother before sitting back at the table, a beer in her hand.

"You don't look like a fighter," Steve remarked, frowning.

"How does a fighter have to look for you?" Katta asked, tilting her head.

"I don't know. More like Natasha, I would say. You are petite."

Steve looked at the girl that seemed to be in her mid-twenties. She was the tiniest person present. A tank top revealed her arms that looked well trained but not striking. Her green eyes were shine-through, and her dark-blond hair was loosely braided.

"Underestimation can be a big advantage," Katta stated, taking a sip from her drink.

"Then you would surely not disagree with a little sparring," Tony intervened with an innocent smile. Katta chuckled at his comment and placed her beer back onto the table. "The philanthropist, a.k.a genius, a.k.a millionaire wants to put up a fight?" she asked.

Tony got up, getting rid of his suit jacket. "It's billionaire, Miss Harlovsen. I wouldn't call it a fight just now. Let's claim it a 'getting to know each other'."

Katta snorted but stood up, clapping her hands together. "Will be a pleasure meeting you, Mister Stark," she grinned.

"No blood in the backyard", Erik yelled but looked amused at the two coming closer to each other. Clint curtly considered stopping Tony, but he already raised his fist, letting his head circle. He would learn it the hard tour, then.

"Don't be afraid. I'm going easy on you," Tony said, causing Katta and the other Harlovsens, including Clint, to laugh.

Tony threw a punch that Katta easily dodged without moving at all. He proceeded, punching and kicking her until he stepped back, breathing heavily.

"You don't need to go that easy on me." Katta tilted her head and stepped forward, closing the space between them. With a fluid movement, she jumped on his shoulders and spun around. Tony collided with the ground while she graciously landed on her feet, stretching out a hand, helping him up.

Tony coughed and held his shoulder. Stains of mud and grass covered his beige designer suit. "I said I was going easy on you," he seethed between his teeth, faltering towards a chair and sitting down.

"I am very impressed, Lady Katta", Thor said, smashing his beer glass to the table. Katta flinched at the loud sound.

"God of thunder, huh?" she asked while sitting back down. Tony still was busy patting his suit off.

"Yes, my lady. A true honour to meet you", Thor answered, bowing slightly.

Another guy reached the table, bending forward to grab a bottle. "Your brother caused us a lot of problems," he growled.

Thor spun around and examined the man. "I feel his influence still lingering onto you."

"Was not easy, getting Arne out of Lokis mind control thing." Katta frowned, looking resentful.

"How did you manage that without magic?" Thor asked, surprised. Arne lifted his shirt and revealed some faded scars on his chest.

"You hurt your own, what is he, your brother?" Bruce bent forwards, looking at the scars in horror. Katta nodded, averting her eyes.

"Was the only way to free him from the influence. Arne's natural instincts needed to suppress the mind control."

"And what if you could help us, beware the earth of threats like him?" Steve asked, addressing Katta.

"We fought enough wars that were not ours, Mister Rogers. By all means, you should know why we want to decide by ourselves, what is it worth fighting for. Though I must say I'd miss no opportunity to beat the shit out of your brother", she said, nodding towards Thor.

"I'd like to see you try." Thor smiled. Katta scoffed and directed her sight to Bucky.

"Talking of suffering. The winter soldier. I thought you were a myth until Liv convinced us she had seen you in an old H.Y.D.R.A base she was toppling with her task force."

Bucky frowned as he tried to remember the incident. Said sister approached the table and examined the winter soldier coldly.

"You probably won't remember. It seemed like you were another person", she commented, grabbing for a bottle.

"Who are you working for?" Bucky asked Liv. She chuckled in response.

"Let's say my client was not very amused that I wasn't able to bring you down."

Bucky tensed, but she waved off. "No fights in the backyard. Although I'd love to pay you back for the broken ribs."

"I didn't mean to--" Bucky was interrupted by her.

"No need to excuse. We all know the risks of the jobs we're doing or not, Olaf?"

The addressed man scoffed, shaking his head as he cut his steak.

"Who trained you all?" Natasha asked, stunned.

"Business secret," Katta replied.

"How much more are there of you, then?" Natasha tilted her head, tapping her feet at the ground.

"Curious you are", Erik said, to which Natasha replied which a slight smile.

"Simply using my opportunity."

"Thank you for the invitation, but I think we should leave," Clint announced and stood up. He went towards Katta.

"I wish you asked for anything else," she frowned. "Greet Laura from me, will you?"

"Even she knows about your family. Wow!" Tony said, slightly offended. Katta embraced Clint and nodded towards the others.

"One last thing. Just because we shared a BBQ doesn't mean we won't hunt you when commanded. That's for all of us." she said.

"Why don't we fight them right now. There will never be a possibility like this?" Sam whispered towards Bruce, who shook his head.

"Try us", Katta said sharply.

"I think that's not necessary." Steve stood up and reached out his hand to shake hers. "It was a pleasure to meet you, ma'am. At least please consider joining us. Our country could use somebody like you."

She scoffed, looking at the blond soldier. "Your country is the worst of all."

"Then screw the country, do it for the people that are living in it," Tony said, putting the sunglasses back on.

"You mistake me for somebody that cares, Stark. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but that I has not existed for a long time", she said, a hint of bitterness in her face and a frown on his.

"Just in case." Tony handed her a small device, not larger than a coin. Katta examined it closely before throwing it towards Arne. He quickly opened and skilfully dissembled it, analyzing every little bit of it.

"Clean," he said before putting it back together in seconds.

"I could use somebody like you in my tech team," Tony said, impressed, before turning around. "Was a pleasure meeting you, Katta. Next time, I'll be prepared better."

Katta nodded and waved the group goodbye before they left the backyard.

"Wow, Clint, any more assassins that you'd like to pull out of your sleeve?" Tony asked as they reached the Quinjet.

"No, she's always been my last backup, but I guess the world didn't do her good." Clint frowned, looking back to the house.

"How did you meet her?" Natasha asked, taking her usual seat. Clint placed his bow onto another seat and sighed, rubbing his neck.

"I had a mission with S.H.I.E.L.D. We were commanded to steal information about new-constructed weapons from Azerbaijan. Apparently, we weren't the only ones looking for it." He chuckled.

"Katta took me down without even making a sound. She and one of her brothers worked for another government, which was after the documents. They stole it before we could and escaped through a fire exit. While her brother took the files away, she placed several time bombs to destroy their traces."

Clint felt all eyes on him as he proceeded to tell. At this time, he'd known none of them – except Natasha.

"It seemed like their government wanted to eliminate them after they got the information. I shot down one of them as they tried to execute Katta's brother. A moment later, the bombs blew up, and I was buried under pieces of concrete. I think as reparation, Katta came back and lifted them before they smashed me entirely. When she returned to find her brother, she saw him being head-shot by the government she had been working for."

A numb feeling washed over Clint as he remembered the day. The Avengers stared at him, disturbed.

"That would explain her mistrust in the government," Tony broke the silence, buttoning up a new shirt.

"Katta had to leave her brother's body behind and flee before she was executed as well. I offered her help in exchange for the information, and she consented. I hid her away with Laura until they stopped looking for her, and then she returned to her family. Later, I occasionally worked with her under the agreement that she would never appear in any S.H.I.E.L.D files."

Steve shook his head, looking at the ground.

"They were never able to bury Vikar. They destroyed his body entirely to cover their tracks," Clint ended the story.

"For who is she working at the moment, if not for any government?" Bucky asked.

"I don't know. I heard rumours about a security chief for the prince of Wakanda, but nothing in special," Clint answered, looking up.

"T'Challa?" Tony asked, frowning. "He would have surely told us if he had somebody like her up his sleeve."

"Not if she had asked him not to," Natasha stated. "He would take that into account."

"Easy thing, then. We ask him to command her to fight for us," Bruce proposed.

"She surely has excluded by contract that he can't assign her to other commands. She isn't dumb." Clint shook his head.

"But he can bring her to the tower, which gives us another possibility to convince her," Steve said, rubbing his temples.