Many fanfic writers layer their stories with little tropes about "previous missions" -- "the time where they broke up that human trafficking ring in [City X]" being among the more common. To my knowledge, no one has stopped to consider what those three words might actually mean, and how such an encounter may affect even highly trained operatives.

I think you're being incredibly, incredibly unfair to your fellow writers with this statement. Putting in a "trope" in a story does not mean that an author hasn't given thought to what is behind that trope. Yes, I know a trope is called such because it's a common occurrence, but that doesn't mean authors don't put thoughts into the devices and tropes they use, and that they don't consider the ramifications of these. Just because your fic takes a chance to "turn over the rocks" doesn't mean the other authors who have alluded to similar themes as covered explicitly in your fic haven't given thought to those issues. It simply means that their fics are choosing to focus on other things. It could be a sign that Clint and Natasha did have issues with the human trafficking at the time and have since gotten over it, it could mean that they didn't and that's fine, too. Personally, I prefer to give those writers the benefit of the doubt, and think that if they want to write a story that handles these topics, they can and will, and with some competency, in fact. By saying that--to your knowledge, of course--no other writer has given the meanings of these words any thought is non-inclusive, which strikes me as a little sad because fanfiction, in my opinion, is meant to include all. It's supposed to be a safe place where fans can come and they can write what they like and hopefully what others like, without fear of being judged.

In addition, I want to point out something, canonically, Natasha has always had issues with trafficking, especially when it involves children and women. That's a canonical fact. I have seen the panels around Tumblr and Livejournal, and I know several others that are more well-versed in comics that can point the way to these.

I know you feel like people are attacking your story right now because of the improper warnings, and I'm sorry if it's coming across that way, but please, don't make the mistake of thinking you're the only one that gives serious thought to things Natasha and Clint face in their day to day lives because your fic is the one currently taking on something edgy and others may choose to write, at this time, something lighter. We're all here to write and support each other because that's what communities do.

Yes, you are absolutely correct - looking at the language in my comment, I overstated the issue. What I meant to say is that there are no fics about trafficking, despite the fact that it keeps being brought up in the "past mission summaries." That's the omission or disconnect I'm trying to address.

I certainly don't think that I'm "the only one that gives serious thought to things Natasha and Clint face in their day to day lives.". Absolutely not, and if that's what you got from the above, I don't really see it, and can reassure you that's not the case. There are writers out there who give thought to issues that would never have occurred to me and when I read their work I'm flabbergasted at my own blindness. And more often than not, lightness is what I want too.

Thanks for pointing out the canonical references; I'm not that familiar with comic canon but that's an angle I kind of expected and that will be coming out in the last chapter.

Finally, I think it's worth noting that this piece has taken me to darker places then I thought I'd ever go as a writer, and it's taken/is taking its toll in a number of ways. And I'm grateful to a number of people who have realized that and provided their support in a number of ways. As you say, that's what communities do.