Chapter One: Fiery hearts and armèd hands.
Things were hazy—I was in and out—but I could hear Steve calling.
He sounded distant like he was far out on the field with those Doom drones, but he was just in front of me, shielding us from the oncoming fire. I watched as he gestured for Tony to fall back, and Tony complied—clearing a path through the Latverian forest. I could no longer make out his words as Steve handed me to Tony and fanned us off. I remember feeling the cool metal on my exposed back and the wind and that was enough to knock me out.
When I came to again, I was laid on the long seat at the back of the jet with Tony standing above me. "Hey, Natasha!"
I rolled my head in his direction, laying my shaking hand over my stomach, and tried to speak. The excruciating pain in my abdomen drowned the words I wanted to say in blood.
"Cap, she's barely here. Have Fury meet us over British airspace or somewhere near it if he can, she's gonna need better care quick."
Through my lashes and around Iron Man's body, I could see Steve sending out the call. Tony re-masked himself and removed my arm from my waste. "Natasha, I can't see how deep that wound in your torso is with out looking you over with the suit. Stay as still as you can, okay?"
I coughed up the blood pooling in the back of my throat and opened my eyes enough to see Tony rotate his metal head from my head to my toes. A moment passed before he refocused on my stomach again and when he did, he took a short step back, exposing his face again. I knew what he saw.
"Natasha—you're—"
"Don't—not aloud—please—" I managed to breathe. He came in closer to my face.
"Why didn't you sit this mission out? Are you crazy?!"
"Just please—" I shook my head in disagreeance. I wanted him to be quiet." Steve doesn'—"
I clenched my eyes shut and coughed away from Tony, one last time before I passed out for good.