AN: So, in a traditional storytelling arc, act ii is when things are all broken and at their worst. Apparently I'm going conventional with this story. I'm still trying to keep it self-contained just in case, but I have a better idea as I go along, where exactly everything is leading.
Still own nothing. I'm sure my ideas aren't even that creative. But they do appreciate reviews
This was arguably one of the most awkward situations Natasha Romanoff, aka the Black Widow, had ever been in. She was helping settle her partner, best friend and undefinable other half otherwise known as Clint Barton, into the guest bedroom at his own farmhouse. Where he lived. With his wife. And children. She had already brought in a large supply of medical items, including the IV antibiotics that he would need for the next week, painkillers, whether he wanted them or not, and supplies to change the dressing on his leg from where it had recently recovered from having its artery severed and then a Russian assassin digging her fingers into it to try and staunch the bleeding.
"I'm fine, just stop." He glared at Natasha who had just finished explaining to Laura just how important it was that Clint rests for at least one week and receives all the IV antibiotics she brought. Laura had looked distinctly alarmed at the idea of what would happen if his graft failed.
"Shut up, Clint. I wouldn't have to do it if I knew I could trust you about this." Natasha glared right back at her partner, pulling up some morphine to make him more compliant. Before he could object, she injected him with a good-sized dose.
"What did you just do?" Laura looked alarmed as Clint's eyes started drooping and he slurred something about killing Natasha.
"Drugged him so I can talk to you for a few without him getting upset." Natasha sat down on the bed, motioning for Laura to sit somewhere as well.
"We can go out to the living room. The kids are upstairs…" Laura wasn't stupid, she knew that this was his partner, the one he was probably in love with.
Natasha shook her head slightly. "No, we have to stay here. You see, I'd keep him doped up the whole time if I thought that would keep him still, but there is a distinct possibility with the level of morphine I just gave him, that he could stop breathing." She was nonchalant about the potentially lethal dose of morphine she administered, which did little to calm Laura.
Laura's eyes went immediately to Clint's chest, which was still rising and falling slowly. She looked back at Natasha, very overwhelmed with what had just been brought home.
"How careful are you guys about this place?" Natasha went back to the topic at hand, making sure that Clint would be safe here, unattended.
"Very. I don't know exactly what he does, but I know the importance of our secrecy. I have a nanny, who Clint vetted but who does not know anything specific about the family except my husband travels for work."
"Alright. Do you have a safe room?" Natasha was sure Clint had one on the property, but it was just as important that Laura know about it and be able to get there.
Laura nodded. "Yes. It's got supplies stocked too. What's going on?"
"Long story short, we work together, a former employer of mine is on the warpath regarding me and isn't above hurting people I work with to draw me out." Natasha carefully skirted around the more delicate aspects of the situation.
"What are the chances of them finding us here?"
Natasha paused for a moment, looking at the sleeping form of her partner. "Low. Very low, if he did everything right, and I think he probably did."
"Why are you leaving then?" Laura was thinking less about the interpersonal aspects of the situation, and more focusing on making sure the kids were protected, since Clint was apparently mostly out of commission.
The red head startled a little at the question. "I didn't want to impose on his family life." Or she couldn't stand to see his family life. One of the two things. Plus she figured Laura wouldn't want her anywhere near her family.
Laura bit the inside of her lip, looking at Clint, the supplies, and the back to Natasha. "But I think he'd rather you be here." The tone of voice told Nat that her partner's wife was aware on some level of the closeness between the partners.
Natasha respected the woman for being up front with it, honestly. "Well, he's an idiot, which I'm sure is no surprise to you."
Laura smirked and gave a half nod in response. "I can agree. But." The brunette struggled for a moment. "Stay. I don't know how to handle this." She motioned to the medical equipment, but it was understood that she also meant the pressure of a potential attack. And maybe even just dealing with Clint while he was injured like this. "I trust that he has done things right here, but if something goes sideways, I can't help him like you do."
Curious now, Natasha examined the woman in front of her again. She was pretty, in a girl-next-door kind of way. She was definitely nervous and scared, which was understandable considering the situation. But there was also a strength to her that made her able to face the woman her husband was partnered with, not only without looking away, but without being angry.
Logically, it would be better if she stayed with Clint. She would worry about him if she were somewhere else, and she knew that he was far more likely to do something stupid if she were gone, especially if he thought she was in trouble. She also knew that he would have the equipment and connections she would need for research.
"Alright. I'll stay." Natasha was uneasy about the situation, but it was the best solution for the moment. By the time Clint was better, he might be up for helping her take a hunting trip.
"If you ever drug me like that again," Clint began threateningly, several hours later, still blurry-eyed from the narcotics.
Natasha rolled her eyes. "You'll do what, bleed on me?" She let the front two legs of the chair she had been tipped back in settle onto the floor. Coming over to sit on his bed, she looked more apologetic. "I really am sorry. I just didn't think I had enough time to cover what I needed to with Laura, and deal with your interjections. And I was afraid you'd try and stop me when I left."
Clint frowned as realization dawned. "But you're still here."
"Yeah, well, your wife is persuasive." Clint looked at her in response, almost apologetically, communicating that clearly Laura and Nat shared some traits. Natasha tried to prevent the smirk that came to her face in response, mostly successfully.
"Thank you, Nat." His hand went over hers, his voice sincere.
She pulled her hand away from his, standing back up. "Well, she was right that it was more logical for me to stay with you, just in case. And I figured you'd have the networking infrastructure I'd need, security-wise." Her tone and demeanor slipped back into her office persona.
He nodded, understanding this was uncomfortable for her. "Alright. You let me know what you need, and I'll get it for you." A sharp look from the Russian caused him to quickly amend the statement. "I'll tell you where you can get it."
"Good. Now, get some rest. If you can manage to let yourself heal without fucking it up more, then you can help me when it comes time to finish this." A dark smile appeared on her face for the potential to give back some pain to the monsters who raised her. Clint was slightly uneasy at the gleam in her eyes, but happy that she planned to include him.
"Who are you?" A smallish male child demanded as Natasha emerged from the guest bedroom that housed her partner.
The deadly assassin arched her brow delicately and shot back, "Who are you?" They hadn't discussed yet what they were going to tell the kids about any of this.
"You're in my house!" he responded indignantly, his arms crossed.
Before they could come to blows, Laura heard the talking and scolded the boy. "Cooper, you're supposed to be doing your homework."
"What happened to Heidi?" Cooper seemed angry at his mother.
Realization dawned on Laura's face; the boy thought Nat was a new nanny. "Nothing happened to Heidi. She's coming back in two days. This is Natasha, she works with your Dad."
Now the boy's eyes widened. "Is Dad here?" He looked around anxiously.
"Yes, sweetheart. He's resting right now, which is why I didn't come and get you two. He got hurt at work and Natasha was nice enough to get him back here so he could get better."
"Hurt how?" Now Cooper looked alarmed.
"Just hurt his leg. He just needs some rest and medicine for a week or so, then he'll be good as new." Laura spoke with a soothing voice and Natasha couldn't help but just stare at the interaction between mother and child.
They were things so foreign to her. She had no mother to calm her fears and tell her it would all be ok, and she would never have a child of her own to soothe and comfort. It made her chest feel vaguely tight.
The conversation between mother and son had continued as Natasha was lost in her own world until she realized they were both looking at her. "Hello. Nice to meet you." Nat wasn't very comfortable with children like this. She hadn't had normal interactions with other children even growing up; the other girls she had been with were really just targets in the end. Interacting with a pre-teenaged boy was a new skill.
Cooper looked at her for a moment, not sure what to make of her awkward attempt at conversation. Instead he bolted for the stairs. "Lila! Dad's home!" His voice faded to a muffled timbre as he disappeared. Shortly thereafter though, he reappeared, with a younger girl in tow.
"Daddy!" Lila looked around for her father, eyes falling on Natasha instead, looking to Cooper for explanation.
Laura explained to the girl that her father was indeed home, but resting and Miss Natasha would be staying with them for a little while. Natasha decided to try and improve her interaction and this time crouched down to the little girl's level. "Hi. You must be Lila. You dad has told me about you." It seemed like a safe thing to say and it was technically true, although he hadn't said much beyond the fact that she existed.
Lila nodded to the redhead, but was clearly more interested in finding her father. "I'm in here, Pumpkin." Clint called from the spare room.
Laura quickly cut them off before they could barrel into the room. "It's really important that you don't accidentally hurt Daddy's leg, ok?" Cooper grumbled but let his mother lead him and his sister into the guest room where Hawkeye was nested. Nat slipped in silently, standing guard at the foot of the bed.
She continued to monitor how exactly the family thing worked for Clint. She noted that he seemed to have slipped into one of his undercover personas, a person who had never murdered for money or country, the affable father figure of the fifties perhaps.
Natasha didn't interfere unless one of the children got too rambunctious around his leg, then she would carefully move them further away. Laura finally decided that they should give Clint a break asking Lila if she wanted to show Miss Natasha her room.
The gesture was surprising, that Laura would allow her near the kids so easily. Though when she thought about it more, she realized that Laura had no clue who she really was or what she was capable of.
It was a strange feeling: being herself, but not being feared. And somewhat amusingly, she realized that she had switched roles with Clint: now he was portraying a character and she was herself, without anyone running in fear. Natasha allowed the child to lead her up the stairs to show off her princess room.