Author's Note: OH MY SHIZNITS TEN WRITTEN CHAPTERS WITH OVER 23, 000 WORDS, 20+ REVIEWS, FAVORITES, AND FOLLOWS ALL IN THE COURSE OF AN ESTIMATED ONE MONTH.
You all have made my life so much brighter! I've enjoyed writing for you guys so far, and this story is yet to reach its climax! Ooh, I'm so excited to continue to write this and finish it. I thank you all so much!
ENJOY! x
...
"You will watch your Captain die."
Steve's hold on Natasha's shoulder tightened. "Natasha? Nat? What do you mean?" he asked, evidently worried. Her breathing slowed a little, and she calmed down. She still closed her eyes like she was afraid, though. Steve released his hold on her and used his hand to lift her face, making her eyes open; he stared intently into the green, and softly uttered her name.
She let him pull her close. She buried her face into his warm chest, him letting out soft cooes of comfort. "It's okay... It's okay..."
She finally pulled herself free from his embrace, but she couldn't say she wanted to. She felt safe in his arms, and though she couldn't explain why, his very hold on her made her feel loved. "I... Steve I..." she began to say, hesitating a little. She recalled her last memory, and it was a very dark one, she could still feel the hit she'd endured, the whisper. The man's words resonated throughout her mind. One word registering in her brain. Captain. She continued. "Something wrong happened. I think it's got something to do with you."
Steve's brow creased. "Are you saying it's my fault the gym exploded?"
"No." Natasha gave him an exasperated look. Steve pursed his lips. "I'm saying someone's coming after you. And they know about me." She paused. Then sighed. "There was this guy, he... he um... knocked me out. But before that he whispered to me. In Russian." Her eyes widened. In Russian! she thought, shocked at the revelation which occured in her thoughts. She grew angry, her foul memories of Russia coming up to the surface when they were buried so deeply before.
"He knows I'm Russian, Steve! He fucking knows!" she cried out. Steve was taken aback by her sudden outburst. He tried to say her her name, tried to calm her down, but she cut him off, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "I made sure to erase my background when I came to the States. I made sure everything about Natalia Alianovna Romanova was erased. Made sure there was nothing left of her; made sure my new identity didn't have anything to do with her. Because I never wanted to go back to that place. I was so happy here, when I was away from there..." Natasha choked. "But they know..." This sentence came out in a whisper.
"Nat, please, I didn't mean for this to happen!" Steve begged. "When you saved me I didn't know it was at a cost..." He bowed his head. "I'm so sorry..."
"No, no you're right," Natasha said, her voice still rough and angry. "I overreacted... I guess..."
Steve bit his lip. "But... You're still mad."
"Of course I'm still mad!" Natsha snapped. "My art center blew up, Steve! For all I know, everyone died!"
Steve shut his eyes and buried his head in his hands. He mumbled something unintelligent. Natasha noticed this and tried to swipe his hands away, saying, "What is it?"
Steve mumbled again.
"What is it?"
"It's Tony..."
Those two words were enough to make Natasha jump out of the hospital bed, causing a cry of alarm from Steve. She immediately asked where Tony was and what had happened to him. Steve led the way, not answering her question. Natasha was curious and at the same time her anger grew, since Steve wasn't giving her any more information, and so she had pushed aside a nurse when the woman came in, surprised to see the patient out of bed.
"Did you really have to do that, Nat?" Steve asked while he walked briskly to Tony's room.
"Shut up and walk faster, Steve," she said. "Now, what happened to Tony?" she asked again.
Steve sighed. He reached for her hand. She pulled it back. He sighed again, running a hand through his hair. "He was shot. I tried to help but Pep -"
"He was what?!" Natasha screeched, earning looks from the passing medical staff and visitors. Luckily Natasha wasn't put into a hospital gown. They would have stared longer, and would have tried to stop them. "Walk faster!"
Steve did as he was told, and finally came upon Tony's hospital room. Natasha shoved him to the side and opened the door to see Tony lying on the hospital bed, with Pepper crying next to him. "Oh my god..."
Pepper looked up and smiled sadly when she saw Natasha, but her smile disappeared as soon as she noticed who stood behind her. "Natasha, why'd you bring him here?" Pepper asked harshly. Steve took a few steps forward as Natasha closed the door. Pepper stood. "Answer me."
Steve shifted. "Look, Pe -"
"I asked Natasha you stupid oaf!" Pepper yelled, a few tears rolling down her cheeks. Natasha only stared with a blank look.
Pepper rushed towards Steve and held him against the door. He did not groan. She slapped him. "It's your fault!" She slapped him again. Natasha held her breath. "We knew you were bad news!" Another slap. "Everything was perfect until you came in and brought a fucking gun shot with you, Steve Rogers!" Another slap. Natasha cringed. Steve did nothing. Natasha noticed this. She flinched, and took a step forward. "Or should I say Captain America?" Another slap. Natasha bit her lip. "You're supposed to be dead!" Slap. "Why are you here?!" Pepper raised her hand again, but Natasha caught it.
"Pepper, stop this," she warned, her voice low and threatening. "That's enough."
Steve did nothing. His eyes were still shut tight, as if he were reliving every slap. Natasha felt her anger melt away, but only just a little. "Steve. Explain. Why?"
Steve sighed.
Silence.
Natasha and Pepper waited, one with patience, one with rage, yet both filled with the want for answers.
Then...
Steve began. "Back in 1945, I crashed the plane. You all know that." Both girls nodded. "But I wasn't found by the right people. Let's just say that HYDRA, the group I died trying to stop, found me in 1963. Zola, a German scientist who worked with my enemy, Red Skull, had me kept in some sort of chamber, which preserved me. I woke up from time to time, but it was only because they needed me. They experimented on me. Took blood samples, tested my limits. They were trying to recreate the serum which turned me into... well, a super soldier. They never perfected it though. But they were able to make soldiers who were close enough. They still wanted better anyway. They tried cutting me open once to... to you know..." Steve paused, tears clouding his eyes. Natasha placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Pepper's features softened.
"Sometime in the year 1975, I managed to escape. I got out, sweaty and tired and drained of so much energy, only to find out I was years in the future. I tried to call for help. HYDRA managed to find me first. I fought hard, I really did. But I was so weak at the time. I already fought through the experiments and all their guards by myself. I lasted only a few days before they brought me back. They decided it was too risky to bring me out again, but they didn't want to kill me either, because they thought they could extract the formula of the serum from me someday. So they put me back in.
"Now, I don't know anything that happened after. Because right after I was captured and put back into the chamber..." Steve stared at Natasha, something flashing through his blue eyes. Natasha couldn't tell what he was thinking, or feeling, but her breath got caught in her throat. "... I woke up to find her."
Pepper's eyes widened. She looked from Natasha to Steve and back again. A hand went over her mouth. "Oh my..." Pepper said. The wheels in her brain turned, and she assumed. "The errand!"
Natasha nodded, swallowing. "Exactly."
Pepper cried again. "I'm sorry... sorry... but... Tony!" She went back to her fiance's bed side. She cried a little before saying, "They want you back, Steve. You... you must leave all of us alone! You got the Art Center blown, you got Tony shot... Natasha had been knocked out cold for hours for Christ's sake!" Pepper glared at him and he hung his head, ashamed. Natasha's face darkened. "Nat, leave him! You could lose everything!"
Natasha thought it over. She had grown close with Steve over time, yes, but Pepper had been her friend for so long. She couldn't make a decision. And finally, finally, when she did, she walked over to Pepper, who held Tony's hand tightly in her own. She placed a hand on Pepper's shoulder. This action was misinterpreted. Steve thought Natasha had taken Pepper's side, and he didn't blame her. He had no reason to. He turned to leave. Only Pepper noticed this and she smiled. Both people were taken aback though, when Natasha spoke.
"I'm sorry, Pepper."
The strawberry-blonde woman did a double take, Steve almost falling over. "What?" Both exclaimed, two pairs of eyes staring at her with disbelief. Natasha shrugged, a gesture which felt out of place and just a little bit offensive given the situation the three were in.
"I'm sorry," Natasha repeated her apology. Her hand left Pepper's shoulder. "But I think we are all overreacting. Especially you, Pepper. I know that you're upset that Tony's been shot. But making Steve leave isn't the answer." Natasha turned to Steve, her eyes pleading with him, telling him to stay. The corners of Steve's lips turned upward just a little. She turned back to Pepper. "The people who've got Steve on their list of targets has no doubt penned us down too. You can keep Tony safe, Pep, but I'm not going to leave him to fight those people alone."
Pepper nodded. "I understand." She smiled softly at Natasha. "You really care for him, don't you?" Natasha returned her smile and nodded. Steve blushed at this. "Okay," Pepper agreed. "I don't like this, but... okay. Do whatever you have to do. Just... stay alive..."
Pepper and Natasha hugged. "I will," Natasha whispered.
Natasha pulled away first and headed for Steve. The guy opened his mouth to say something, but before he could Pepper called him. He slowly looked her in the eye. "Keep Nat safe, or I'll do more than just slap you," Pepper threatened. "I still don't trust you completely."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Come on Steve," Natasha beckoned as she opened the door and headed out of the hospital room. Steve hurried after her, but while the door remained open, and in the few moments it took to go outside, Pepper added, "And thank you." Steve and Natasha stopped walking, both looking back at Pepper with confusion. She smiled softly. "For helping get Tony out in time."
The corner's of Natasha's lips turned up slightly and she continued to walk. Steve smiled brightly at Pepper, as if assuring her it was no problem at all, and that he genuinely wanted to help, before closing the door softly.
He raced to catch up with Natasha. When he did, he said, "Natasha, you don't have to do this."
"I know," Natasha replied. "But I want to. Now, where's the car? The car is here, right?"
Steve took hold of her shoulder, turning her around to face him. He faced her with a serious and worried look in his eyes. "Nat, please. You don't have to do this. You're risking your life for me. I don't... I want to keep you safe!"
"I know the risks I'm taking Rogers," Natasha replied, her voice taking on a harsh tone. "Besides, what am I going to do? All I'm doing is keeping you safe in my home."
"That's the point, Nat! You might get hurt!"
"If it means you're safe, so be it."
"I can take care of myself. You don't have to do this."
Natasha sighed. It seemed like such a huge leap from arguements about taking a shower to that. "Steve. This is stupid. I still have an art center to take care of. Where are my stuff?"
Steve ran a hand through his hair. "They're in the parking lot."
"Great. Let's go."
"You really won't back down from this."
"Of course not. Lead the way."
Steve began walking. "You're the most stubborn person I've ever met."
"Glad to hear it."
...
"Darcy, please..."
Natasha sighed, settling herself on the couch while Steve stood somewhere in front of her, watching her. Natasha had woken up in the hospital room around four o'clock in the morning the day after the art center's event, and it was now six o'clock. She managed to get a hold of her secretary, Darcy Lewis, who she was glad to learn received no serious injury. The same couldn't be said about most of the guests, though.
"Alright, Miss..." Darcy replied softly from the other end of the line. "Around seventeen guests killed. Four students gone. Thirty-one injured. Two missing." Darcy's voice cracked, her throat seeming to grow thicker and thicker due to sobs as she continued to say the casualties of the explosion.
"Oh my god..."
Natasha stifled a cry. So many people hurt and killed just because of her event. Granted, it wasn't her fault, but it happened at her art center, and in her head she felt guilty.
"The police are investigating right now ma'am. In fact, I'm here, at the art center," Darcy informed. "They discovered that someone planted a bomb. They're trying to find who. There are also people from S.H.I.E.L.D. I talked to Agent Phil Coulson earlier. They think the explosion was caused by one of the members in their Wanted List. They still can't figure out why they attacked an art center, though. They say it's odd. But no family blames you, Miss." Darcy paused for a while. "Luckily," she added.
"Okay, Darcy..." Natasha answered, struggling to process all the information given to her. Then she said, "I'll come over."
"I'll wait, Miss," Darcy replied, then hung up.
Natasha stood. "Come one, Steve. We're heading for the art center."
Steve was by her side in an instant. "Are you sure you want to go, Nat? You're emotionally compromised."
"I'm sure." Natasha took a deep breath and composed herself. "Come on..."
...
Agent Phil Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D would have recognized Steve Rogers a.k.a Captain America in a heartbeat. If he did, the upcoming events would have been avoided.
However, just as the S.H.I.E.L.D vehicle pulled away and he headed back to the Triskelion, Natasha's car pulled up.
If only.