Set during Civil War after the main fight scene between both teams as Steve and Bucky make their escape.

Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes came bolting towards the quinjet, desperate to make their escape. In their rush, they didn't notice that Natasha had already made it there. She watched them getting closer, her loyalties torn.

The Avengers had become the closest thing to family Natasha had ever known, she hated to see them split. But sides had had to be taken, and to her chagrin, she found herself on the team opposite Steve Rogers. She had stuck to her initial choice in spite of it, she truly believed that for once in his life, Tony had it right. But Steve had never steered her wrong, and in the face of so much unnecessary violence, she found herself beginning to waver.

Once a double agent, always a double agent, a nasty voice quipped in her ear, you are incapable of loyalty. If Steve knew your secrets, he wouldn't want you within a ten foot radius of him.

Natasha shook her head angrily. Steve did know her secrets, everyone did, she had dumped them onto the internet along with all the Shield/Hydra files. She knew Steve had read them, any true leader would do his research on his team members, and Steve was nothing if not thorough. She had waited for his reaction, certain she would see disgust and disappointment. She had already made plans to leave the Avengers headquarters in search of a different life. It wasn't the first time her cover had been blown and she found herself unwanted. But Steve never let on whether he had read the files.

In the days that followed the file dump he shared secret locations and other sensitive material with her without batting an eye. He never even hinted that she could be anything but upstanding, reliable and true. Not knowing his true thoughts had eaten away at her, how could he be so irresponsible as to not do his research? If he HAD read the files, how could he put their team at risk by trusting someone like her? Finally she couldn't stand it anymore, her conscience smote her incessantly, a feeling that was unfamiliar and unwelcome. One day as he was discussing plans and tactics openly with her, she snapped.

"Did you even read the files Steve? You know what I'm capable of Rogers, why are you messing with me, sharing all this information with me? Acting like I'm some moral compass you can rely on. Newsflash, I've done terrible, terrible things. You should be locking me up Rogers, not sharing crucial intelligence!" She glared at him, defiant, daring him to contradict her, prepared for him to throw her out.

Steve had just smiled at her kindly, a hint of sadness in his blue eyes, as though she were missing something obvious and it pained him. His voice was calm and kind as he replied, "Nat, you have done terrible things, it's true. I read the files. They took you as a little girl. The things you did you were conditioned to do, you didn't know any better."

Natasha smarted at his words, "Don't you dare pity me Rogers. I knew what I was doing. I'm probably the biggest monster on this team. You are a fool to keep me around now that you know."

Steve looked at her seriously, "I don't pity you. By keeping you around I am holding you to a higher standard. Make no mistake Natasha, I am aware of your skillset, I am aware of the risk. But you are capable of great things. You can choose good or evil, and you must choose. We all have to make that choice every single day. I want you as my second in command because I'm betting I can trust you to choose good. After the hell you've been through, I can't imagine you wanting that life back. Before I read the files you had just as many opportunities to bring me down as you have now. You've proven yourself trustworthy over and over again."

He had put his hand cautiously on her shoulder then, "I told you before, I want you as my friend. So I'm treating you like one."

She had stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "There's a chance you've made a terrible mistake trusting me. Hell I don't even trust me."

Steve had smiled and shrugged, letting his hand fall, "Time will tell. I feel pretty good about it. Get those Red Room drill sergeants out of your head and let's get some work done Romanoff."

Natasha pressed her lips together in a thin line. He had been right, the voices of her drill sergeants had never left her. She battled with their criticism on a daily basis. But with Steve's unwavering friendship, she had begun to feel like she was more than a failed Soviet experiment.

Your feelings for him make you weak.

"I don't have feelings for him," she muttered under her breath. At that moment, the Vision noticed Steve and Bucky's escape, and felled a building, only to have it caught and held up by the Scarlett witch. Steve came hurtling towards her, directly under the building when suddenly the red haze keeping it off of Steve disappeared. Natashia watched as if in slow motion, her heart suddenly in her throat as the rubble came crashing down on top of Steve. A wall of dust blocked her vision, keeping her from seeing if he had made it through. He pulse thundered in her ears. Could Steve be dead over an idiotic argument? Could the only good influence in her life be snuffed out so easily? What would happen to her now? She fought a sudden rush of panic. She stuffed it back down, her face a mask of calm. As the dust settled, an outline appeared, and then another. They had both made it through. She allowed herself one moment of relief, her head dropping momentarily to her hand.

Remember your mission Agent.

She stood and methodically walked forward. She was supposed to stop them, but she suddenly lacked the motivation and desire to do so. Her limbs felt heavy as lead.

Cap's head snapped up as she came into view, "Natasha." He said her name warily, uncertain what to expect. It made her heart twinge to hear his doubt, but she didn't blame him.

"You aren't going to stop are you?"

Steve shook his head, almost apologetic. She sighed, "I'm going to regret this aren't I?" Raising her arm, she saw the look of alarm cross Steve's face before she shot a stinger at Black Panther, who had materialized behind them, silent as the grave. She looked at Steve, sharing a look of apology and understanding. "Go." She shot another stinger. Holding off the Black Panther, she urged Steve and Bucky to leave quickly. She belonged on Steve's team. She trusted him, she realized. She had just switched sides, and she knew there would be hell to pay.

As the jet lifted off, she realized she was out of stingers. Her heart sank as Black Panther stood upright, shaking off the last of the painful effects.