I was actually thinking of having a little bonus chapter at the end of this whole story just with the memories in order of how they happened chronologically. Would you guys like that? Either way, I think I'm going to do it.
Chapter Three: Metropolis / Munich:
United yet divided. Who would've ever thought the two polar opposites could co-exist?
Natasha finds herself siding with Tony Stark, still hoping to convince Steve to just side with the Sokovia Accords. She knows it's the right decision but she also understands why he's so persistent on not signing it. And a part of her is on edge of where she truly stands. She knows why Steve is against it but for some reason, she isn't sure why she's for it. Maybe it's because all of her secrets are already out there so it would make no difference to her if she was registered.
Her eyes glance at James who stands behind his childhood friend at the airport where they all are. If all the brainwashing never happened and his memories were all still in his mind, would they be on the same side regardless of who's giving the order? Would they even be here or just be ghosts in the shadows? Would their past together have ever happened?
If only she could have a few minutes just to say -
"You know," Natalia says as James lightly tugs on the zippers of her unzipped jacket, "I still have to go but if you ever change your mind just know that - "
"I won't," James replies too quickly, confirming his certitude. "I don't have a choice either way."
Natalia didn't expect any other answer. She keeps her eyes on him as the wind pushes her hair over her face, her green eyes still popping through as a sharp contrast against her red hair.
"No matter how much I dislike it..." James continues.
He doesn't want Natalia to say anything else so he wraps an arm around her shoulders and pulls her into a kiss. Before she could get a chance to convince herself that this was wrong, his fingers are in her hair and she's pulling him closer to her. They have kissed a lot before but there was something different about this one. For the first time, they weren't conflicted. This is exactly what they wanted to do.
If only she realized these were the final seconds she would spend with him with no idea of when she would see him again. If she would see him again. Their tragic romance is infuriating. He needed to let her go, to go far away, where her passion couldn't get them into danger. For every second they kiss, she feels herself being torn apart by their warring desires. She wanted to keep him safe...while he wanted the same thing for her.
Once they part, Natalia takes that as her cue to run. 'Run like hell', Steve's new ally, Scott Lang, in the size-changing suit said; which is what James and Steve did. They both needed to get to the quinjet to get to what the real problem was. All that stands in their way now is The Black Widow. James knows that she is on the other side but her expression towards them seems more understanding than antagonistic. She has a tight bond with Steve, from what he's told him, so hopefully, she knows why they're doing this.
"You're not going to stop," she says, already knowing what the answer will be.
"You know I can't," Steve replies.
She shakes her head disgracefully. "I'm going to regret this..."
James watches as Natasha holds up her wrist's Widow's bite, its bright glowing light pointing directly at them. He watches as her brows slowly furrow as she revs her motorcycle through the city at night, cutting off cars, buses, and trucks that get in her way (which is all of them). However, she does it in such a clean and stealthy manner that nobody bothers or notices to honk at her. To them, she was merely a bug on their windshield - there and gone before it could go splat.
Natalia feels the arms around her waist tighten. She grins as she looks down at them before slightly turning her head to look at him. Both of their long hair flies around their faces but their eye contact is still achieved. Natalia turns back to the road. As the traffic light turns red, she only speeds up and fires.
To their surprise, Natasha's shot fired right past the both of them, electrocuting King T'Challa who was running towards them from behind. Now, he was bent over, fighting against the bite. James and Steve aren't sure what Natasha's true motives were if she was betraying Stark by aiding them. Either she knows their true intentions or knows that this is all a distraction from a bigger problem; or in a true Black Widow nature, it's both. She's a woman with her own motives and agenda, that's for sure. Some things never change over time, do they?
"Go," she commands them.
James and Steve bolt past Natasha, heading to the quinjet. None of them make eye contact. Instead, James climbs into her bedroom window, waking her right up from her light slumber. Immediately, Natalia runs over to the windowsill and makes sure that he's silent as he enters her room. He tries to talk first but she puts a finger to his mouth, beating him to it.
"You shouldn't be here," she whispers, her lips lightly grazing his with every word she says. "You'll be a dead man if they find you here with me."
"I don't care," James replies as she wraps his face in her hands. He looks down at her. "Natalia..."
"I'll try to see you soon."
"I'll try to keep my eye on you."
Watching the quinjet fly off, Natasha turns around and faces King T'Challa. He stands up after just missing his chance at avenging his father's death by capturing The Winter Soldier. He faces Natasha and she can't read his expression from the inside of his mask. She can sense some betrayal radiating from him since they were supposedly on the same side. Natasha, however, regrets nothing. It felt right letting them get away.
"I said I'd help you find him, not catch him," Natasha reasons with His Majesty. "There's a difference."
It was all about specifics with her. That was how you act as two sides of a coin at the same time - present yourself as one.
Natasha watches as King T'Challa turns around and gives himself a running start and pouncing on the landing gear of the soaring quinjet. She turns and watches him get closer to his real goal - vengeance.
Hell, she can't blame him or stop him. They all want vengeance on something now, don't they?
