Authors Note: I couldn't resist
"We almost got away."
"Steve! You've got to let me go!"
"I just got you back, they're not going to take you." He said with determination resounding in his voice.
"Steve, listen. They don't trust us. Not after shield. They need this. The people need this. You have to let me go."
"I can't."
Tears
"I'll be fine, things will work out." She said with a small smile trying to reassure those desperate blue eyes.
"I'm sorry, Steve." She whispered in his ear as she put both hands on his head and activated her widow's bite.
Then they descended. Swat, military, Special Forces, all of them guns drawn shouting commands and demands. The sounds of helicopters whirring penetrated and engulfed the peaceful silence of the graveyard that was present just moments ago.
Now she sat in a prison cell staring at gray walls reflecting on everything and anything. She knew it wouldn't be that easy to get away, not after what she did. Shield was gone, Nick was a ghost, and she was the only one they could pin this whole thing on. She was about to be the scapegoat.
"Almost, we almost got away." She thought with a sad smile replaying the scene at the graveyard.
"I made sense."
"Ms. Romanoff the court will see you in about an hour." Said a guard as he handed her a package and retreated from the room to give her privacy.
It was the outfit she wore when she was disguise as Tony's assistant. She wondered who picked this out for her but shrugged it off. It didn't really matter what she was in as she was probably about to be prosecuted and sentenced for eternity.
"Why don't you fight?"
"This is what the people need, this is how I atone for what I did."
"All rise!"
The crowd stood up as all eyes fell on the panel of judges who appeared and sat down prompting everyone else to return to their seats.
"We are here today on the trial of one Natasha Romanoff who is accused of treason, murder, conspiring against the nation, and various other charges."
"How does the defendant plea?" asked one of the judges a stern looking old lady with piercing eyes.
"I.."
"She pleads not guilty is what she pleads." Said a very annoying voice that for once sounded like music to her ears.
"Mr. Stark I do not believe this is a matter that concerns you." Said an annoyed looking senator that was part of the panel.
"But you see it does, I'm here to defend Ms. Romanoff as she is or was one of my employees and we all know Stark industries offer the best benefits." Said Tony with a sly grin.
"Very well." Said the judge sounding resound.
"It doesn't matter, not even Tony Stark can get her out of this. I mean how many accounts of murder are on here? It's amazing that she even got into shield." Whispered the same senator with a smug smile to another colleague.
"I wouldn't speak too soon, senator." Said a voice that made Natasha's heart stop for a second.
The whole room went silent as various soldiers and old men in the room stood up to salute the man.
"Well, anyone else?" asked the judge sarcastically.
"Just Bruce over there, Legolas back there, and.."
A flash of thunder shook the room as the doors flew open and a giant man with golden blonde hair strode into the room.
"I, Thor Odinson demand the release of the Scarlet warrior and friend of Asgard!" boomed Thor's thundering voice.
"Well, it doesn't work like that." Snapped the judge causing a confused expression on Thor's face.
"You will each come up individually and present you're plea as to why Agent Romanoff should not be tried today."
"Well, I mean sure she can be cold, distant, and downright scary. Sure she's murdered enough men to even out the sex population a little but shouldn't people ask why these men were murdered? You know that's the problem with you government folk. Just because someone is in such a high position you presume them to be innocent you never question them or maybe you just don't want people to see them for who they really are." Said Tony nonchalantly as he pressed a button on his phone and various televisions in the room sprung to life showing various senators and generals performing various scandalous acts.
"Shut those off! This is an invasion of privacy, he has no right!" shouted the smug senator from earlier who now looked alarmed, while various other one's looked a lot more nervous.
"Agent Romanoff put her whole file out there for the world to see, what are you guys afraid of?" Said Tony dangerously as he looked into the judge's eyes gave a dramatic bow and winked at Natasha before taking a seat up in front right behind Natasha.
"You know, I just don't see how I'm able to walk around freely while she has to be forced into a cell and brought out as a scapegoat to you people. We were both agents and we both carried out the missions given to us by Shield. Sure, she wasn't always on our side but she has been for years now. I broke a code, defected from my mission to spare her. I could have easily put an arrow through her head but then what? Would we still be here? Would Tony be alive? Would we have won the battle of New York? Would Shield have still existed? I guess it's a matter of context or perspective, whatever you want to call it. You might say she worked for the enemy before but how many people that have done great evil to his country has been recruited as allies in exchange for asylum. I don't see them in front of the supreme court on national television." Said Clint with a flat yet dangerous tone as he glared at the various senators. He gave a small nod to the judge and placing a reassuring squeeze on Natasha's shoulder before taking his seat.
"Well, I don't personally know Ms. Romanoff so well but I will tell you one thing. She isn't evil. She isn't corrupt. She follows orders like any good agent or soldier and does what she needs to do as long as she thinks it's right. She could have tried to forcibly take me in to work with shield but she came and talked first. Granted there was a strike team out back but I mean you always need a backup plan in case of the other guy you know? And another thing is how I'm standing here after destroying half a city and you guys aren't making a fuss about it cause I saved New York. Well so did Ms. Romanoff." Said Bruce as he gave the judge an analyzing stare and nervous smile. He awkwardly patted Natasha on the back before taking his seat.
"I do not know how your system works on Midgard or why you find the need for all these complexities. I do know that Romanoff as you people call her is a friend and a fine warrior. We have charged into glorious battle multiple times and have come out victorious. She is a good soldier and not just by her blade but by her shield. Asgardian soldiers know when to strike and when it is their duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves. We lay down out lives for the sake of others and peace between the realms. You say she has done terrible things in the past but we all have. I do not know the severity but in my youth I was arrogant and there various shameful things I do like to admit. Human years are but mere minutes in our eyes so why do you judge only on what she did before but now? Said Thor with a proud smile as he thumped Natasha a little too hard on the back causing her to lurch forward.
"Okay." Said Natasha trying to regain air.
"Ms. Romanoff, you've been quiet so far. Would you like to say something to defend yourself before the final witness?"
Natasha sighed as she got up to address the panel and suddenly all eyes were on her but to her the only one that mattered came from behind.
"Here goes nothing."
"I've lied, I've lied so much that I spun an impenetrable web with systems to deceive and move my way around any obstacle. I am not ashamed of my past as it was actions that I have done and it was my choice. Do I regret some of them? Who wouldn't? I murdered people, most bad but some good. I'm not some angel or saint nor do I pretend to be one. I did what I believed was right for the KGB at the time. My file says I've murdered various people but it doesn't show the ones that I've spared. You assume just because I'm a spy I'm coldhearted and just because I'm a women I seduced and destroyed these men. I have a conscious, and at the end of the day it's my call to pull the trigger or swing that knife. I was asked to kill people out of spite or fear of their corruption being exposed and it was always so obvious. I'm not stupid. I'm not ignorant. I did what had to be done when the circumstances called for it. My record isn't fully clean and that's why I joined shield. I was given a chance to work for the right side. I did everything I could to combat the mafia, terrorism, and various other world affairs. I wanted to help people and make the world a better place. Before espionage was what I was trained to do and all I knew, Shield was decision. I joined Shield, not Hyrdra." Said Natasha with a cold stare as she sat back down.
All eyes were on him now
"I fought for this country during a terrible time in history. There was a madman out to murder billions and I wanted to stop it, to protect others. That was always the motive. You people look at me like an icon and I fought with many familiar faces that are still here today. But I assure you if I was in a court in Germany I wouldn't be seen as a hero. I've murdered fathers, brothers, lovers and various others who had their idea of righteousness. They weren't all SS they just wanted to protect and create a better life for those back home. Life is all about perception; we can argue it one way from one perspective and another from another perspective. I will tell you that from my perspective of working with Natasha that she isn't defined but what her files says about her or her reputation as the black widow. She's a good friend, an excellent partner, and a damn good Avenger. Just because she is a spy doesn't mean she can't be trusted. I trust her. I trust her with my life and I know she'll follow me to the ends of the earth if she believed in what I was doing. Because in the end it's not about us, it's more than that. The people that have stood before you today in this room have been blessed with extraordinary abilities. And with great power comes great responsibility, as we use what we have to protect those who can't protect themselves. That's what shield stands for. Strike first; eliminate all threats before it even happens? That's Hydra. And if at the end of this court session you still find Natasha guilty, I don't see myself fit to carry this shield on my back anymore. This wouldn't be the nation that set out to fight a world threat all those years ago." Said Steve as he slammed his shield onto the floor eliciting gasps from various corners of the room.
"Well, you've all made some compelling cases." Said the judge as she read over the various statements on more time.
"I can see that some of my peers are not who they seem to be and therefore compromised. But those of us who still have any decency to uphold our duty and job should agree that Agent Romanoff here is in fact not guilty." Said the judge with a small smile as part of the room erupted in cheers.
"And Mr. Stark I would like those any videos you have so we can start weeding out various individuals."
"Yes ma'am." Said Tony with a smile
Natasha was in shock, all her life she stood alone as she faced the terrors that the world had to offer. Every time she would get close to someone they would disappear or turn out to be manipulating or using her. She walked into this courtroom today expecting to face these people alone once again. And yet here they stood ready to defend her, to support her, and to speak for her. They cared, and for the first time in forever Natasha realized she had friends.
Congratulations were given all around as she hugged and thanked everyone for testifying for her.
"It is what comrades do from here to Valhalla." Said Thor once again thumping her on the back.
"I mean you did leave me, but what are ex partners for right?" said Clint jokingly as he gave Natasha a quick hug.
"Happy to have you out Ms. Romanoff, although you shouldn't have even been locked up in the first place." Said Bruce with an awkward smile
"Yes I know, I'm the greatest, you're welcome, this is you're Christmas bonus by the way." Said Tony happily as he tried to look stern but ended up smiling as he clasped her on the back.
"Well, you didn't think you could get away from me that easily now did you?" said Steve with a warm smile.
"I told you things would work out." Said Natasha with a coy smile as she sunk into his embrace.
"So where to now?"
"Shawarma? Anyone?"
Authors Note: I guess I'll make it a short story.