I loved this story. As dark as it was, the world is often a dark place, and I like when our heroes can shine a light into those dark corners. And I love stories that AFFECT the heroes. They don't just brush it off and move on to the next save-the-day. It creates a level of normalcy and humanity that makes them relatable and even more heroic.

Wow.

What can I say what I haven't said before? Your writing is beautiful, I adore the humor in it and the characterizations, and how you make these two really skilled, dangerous and, when it comes to it, cold, people so heartbreakingly human.
I think I love the fact that they're together most, and what they are to each other.

(This fits the canon, I think, and though I know they'll be together as lovers in the long run I did miss it here; but in a good way. I'll just continue reading, or maybe re-read some of the stories I read before.)

It's amazing how you build up the stories. I can't say which plot elements are taken from real events or places (you mentioned the pamphlet you got), but that scarcely matters because you weave everything together into a tapestry so rich it is beautiful just hearing of it. Your stories - and characters - are very, very real. The way politics can work, sometimes, the way such organizations work, the wish of people following such prophets to be more, to have somthing they missed for their entire lives. Natasha feels it: the community, the together-ness - and the peace and calm of working in the gardens. So different than what she has known. She probably never knew she missed it until she got to know it, that's the thing with humans, isn't it: you can't miss what you don't know, and the more you know -
Clint had different issues with the "community", I wasn't quite sure which until the very end. I thought it might have been the fact that people were tricked like that - but yes, in a way, that's exactly what it was. People were tricked, influenced by playing on their pasts and their fears and wishes, and that is unforgivable. The fact that this particular community was based in sex trafficking was (hopefully) one-in-a-kind, but there are enough other people who exploit others (without the large picture, just small cases) and know exactly what they're doing, and that's... Well.

I was very glad that, in the end, the two of them were able to understand each other a bit better, and also to establish the leveling-out-routine they fall back onto in other stories of yours. I like to think it brought them closer. And made them a little bit happier, and that's good.

Quick side notes of stuff I thought while reading:
With how much force do you have to throw a chisel or a nail to actually puncture skin and flesh with it, or even kill? Woah, Clint.

Clint, describing that Natasha wasn't been influenced again but was re-gaining her own self was one of the most beautiful things I can remember reading.

I hope they'll be able to return to that cottage.

I'm sure Natasha will find joy in taking care of plants, the next time, Phil can leaves his in her care without worry. She just needed some how-to.

I really don't pity the person trying to get between Hawkeye and Black Widow for good.

Your Maria Hill is intriguing; I'd love to get to know her better. Though not from Clint's perspective, their grudge seems to be mutual.

Fury, on the other hand, I don't like too much, but that always was the case.

Five comic books? Nothing to worry about. A full bookcase of them, however... *laugh*

They say so much when they don't speak at all. It's... wow.

Just like your story (full circle). Thank you so much for sharing this piece of art.

Me again. Am I starting to be annoying? I hope not, otherwise, please let me know!

I like the approach here, based on the first chapter. A mission fic, it seems, with enough room for characters and development. Clint and Natasha right in the middle - this is promising to be good. Plus, I am enjoying your writing and storytelling art a lot, as well as your humor.

Like the subtitles in this chapter. Twelve Misty Mountains, for example. And the first part was excellent, because from Phil's point of view: it allows the opportunity to look at Hawkeye and Black Widow from another angle, as someone who knows them but still doesn't know them fully. That's not supposed to be negative, I respect and like Phil Coulson (actually, reading his words, I was hearing his voice from the Agents of Shield series). ANd he knows Black Widow and Hawkeye inside out, but does he know Natasha Romanof and Clint Barton completely? I think no, but I can be wrong.

Either way, the setting with the prophet and the cult are very interesting. Reading the second part of the first chapter, from Clint's point of view, it sounds ridiculous: why should one ever become part of such a cult? Irrational, even dangerous, abusive, brain-washing. On the other hand, still, many people are members of such cults, and decide to become so out of their own free will. It feels... It feels strange to me.

Anyway, I'm off to the next chapter!

Loved it! Amazing writing!

I cant help but wonder was Natasha swearing on Peter the Great an indirect reference to the line of Romanoff's in Russian history? I just thought that was pretty cool. And I have to say you are one of if not the best writer I've encountered on here. Your word choice, descriptions, internal monologue and storyline/plot attentiveness is brilliant. Well done!

That was a wonderful story.
I love how in character Clint and Natasha were-and I love the slow development of their relationship.
Thanks for sharing

I really enjoyed this story, so much so that I just read all 6 chapters. You wrote both Clint and Natasha really well.
This story was much darker than the others I've read from you but it still had it's funny moments. I laughed at the bit during the briefing with Coulson trying to stick up for Barton then getting the eye from Fury.
Also liked Natasha giving up her cover - goodbye Lucy Edwards - hello Black Widow. Awesome!
Liked their trip to Maine. It seemed Clint needed to get things sorted out in his head, glad that Nat could help him.
Awesome! Well done.

At least they're getting over it. Might be a while, but they know the way out.

Good story.

Creepy!

Phew - what can I say? Dark issues aside, this was a simply awesome read. Well-crafted, well-paced and totally in character for Hawkeye and Black Widow. I totally loved it and its going on my favourites list.

I've now read all your Avengers fics. I hope you are inspired to write more soon.

Wonderful. I loved the emotion and the development of Natasha and Clint's relationship. Great job.

Thank you so much for writing this! The ending was very satisfactory.

"The fact that Holly MacArthur and LaTora Morrison came out of that basement alive provided us with the basis for the initial round of arrest warrants. We don't know if there were others ..." That's the frightening part. Often, we never find out about the hidden evil around us unless there are survivors.
With sleazy pay-for-view videos and the pettiness of greed, your deft touches of humour provide a welcome counterpoint to the banality of this evil. Hawkeye is not the only one with a sure aim.
"No one ... should ever be permitted to abuse people's trust. And to turn that trust into profit for him- or herself. No one." Amen
"Neither of them comments on the endless ribbon of stars that blazes in a velvet-black sky." A healing note to end on. I remember well the beauty of the sky on a summer night in Maine.

Words are utterly failing me in trying to review this final chapter. There is such understated depth here - enough to encompass both of these characters in all their complexity and contradictions. Thank you for this - just an amazing read.

Nice wrap-up to an interesting story. Well done.