It was 2:19 in the morning and Tony was tinkering away in his lab. The repulsor on the left hand of his suit went out during a battle and he had spent all day working out the kinks.
He was about to grab a pair of pliers out of the toolbox when Jarvis chimed in.
"Sir, sorry for my intrusion, but it appears Miss. Romanoff's vitals are increasing at a quick pace."
"Is she awake?" He asked, throwing his gloves on the desk and hurrying to the elevator.
"No, from what I've learned, it is most likely a bad dream." The robotic voice replied.
That didn't ease Tony's now quickening heart one bit.
As the elevator came to a stop on their shared floor, the lights turned on. When the doors opened, he rushed to their bedroom. Without hesitation, he opened the door.
The first thing he saw was the curly red hair getting tossed around. He moved over to the bed and sat down on the edge. She was muttering in both English and Russian. Her head was sweaty with hair sticking to her face and the blankets were kicked to the end of the bed.
"Tasha, wake up. It's just a nightmare." He said softly, gently shaking her. After a few shakes, she bolted up, eyes wide open, her emerald green eyes still haunted from her dream. She then began to shake. Her head resting on her tucked knees as she stared into nothingness.
"Baby what's wrong?" Tony asked pulling her onto his lap. Her legs were now dangling off the side of the bed. She finally blinked when her arms wrapped around his neck. She then buried her face in his shirt.
"I don't want you to die." She said with a voice crack. "I don't want you to die." She repeated, but a lot softer.
"What are you talking about?"
"Everyone died. You died. Blood is on my hands, in my hair, everywhere, and I'm drowning in it. Tony, I'm a monster, a killer, a murderer, anything that relates to that. Everybody is chanting it and it's all true."
"Baby you're not a monster, or a killer, or a murderer. You're a hero, the number one spy in the world. You are an Avenger, a person who avenges the innocent who were killed by enemy forces. You eliminate those who don't deserve to be alive." He said sternly and kissed her hair.
"Look Tasha, I can't change the way you see yourself, but for now on, no more late nights in the lab. Every night I will be right here next to you in case of a really bad dream. You're my number one priority, at the top of my list."
Finally, Natasha smiled and looked up at him. "Thanks." She told him.
"You never have to thank me for that. I would do anything for you because I love you."
"Thats good, 'cause I love you too." She whispered.
Tony gripped her a bit tighter and kissed her tiny nose. "You ready to go back to sleep?" He asked, rubbing circles on her back.
She nodded and Tony pulled the blanket over them and let his head fall back against the headboard of the bed. He watched as Natasha closed her eyes and her breathing evened out before going to sleep himself.
When Clint came to wake them up the next morning, they were still in the same position. He didn't have the heart to wake them up, so he quietly closed the door and made his way off their floor.
