Neither moved for five minutes just staring at one another. No words, no hugs, just green staring into blue. They could both hear footsteps and they knew others were coming and Natasha took her out.
"Nat!" Wanda yelled and engulfed the redhead into a tight embrace.
Although Natasha wasn't into hugs, she allowed Wanda. It was her way out of dealing with Steve but also felt good to have the young lady back in her life.
"Hey," Natasha said and pulled away from Wanda.
Bucky stood next to Steve and gave him a look. Steve couldn't take his eyes off of her, she looked the same, she was in front of him, looking just as beautiful.
"Romanoff!" Bucky said.
"Bucky," Natasha responded.
"We have to talk," Wanda said as her eyes watered.
"After they do Wanda," Bucky said and pulled her away from Natasha.
Neither appreciated Bucky at the moment, but the tension was extreme.
"Rogers?" Natasha asked and walked back into his room.
Steve on her heels and closed the door behind him. He pulled her into him and placed his head in her hair. Natasha tensed but relaxed when his hands rested on her lower back. Her hands snake around his waist and he relaxed into her. They stood like that for at least ten minutes until Steve pulled away. He placed his hands on both sides of her face and sighed. She instinctively licked her lips and he leaned down. Their foreheads lightly touch.
He loved her but there was a but. Natasha leaned up but he turned slightly.
"I'm sorry," Natasha whispered and her cheeks flushed.
"I'm kind of with Sharon," Steve said and took a step back.
Her eyes went steel and she placed her practiced smirk on. Her pain hidden by her mask, pained at his words and she chuckled hiding the bitter tone.
"Glad you moved on Rogers!" Natasha said and grinned.
"Agent Carter is amazing honestly, smart, and I think she's definitely your type," Natasha said with a wink.
Steve couldn't get a read on her and tried to see if she's lying. Before they could continue Sam walked in without knocking.
"Breakfast, family style, five minutes you two!" Sam said with a grin but it faltered.
Steve looked tired and pained while Natasha had her fake smile on. He knew what was mentioned and sighed.
"I better get out of your hair Rogers." Natasha swiftly walked past the two.
As she walked away Sam walked into the room and shut the door behind.
"Uh what the hell?" Sam asked.
"She's back!" Steve said, astonished.
"You also let her walk out of this room! Dude Nat is back, and you let her walk out of here. Did you mention Sharon?" Sam accused.
"I was honest!" Steve argued.
"You're dumb" Sam concluded.
Thor and Rocket we're picking at the pile of sausage Sam had cooked. Natasha tried to turn away but Thor grinned.
"Natasha! Come eat!" Thor said as Rocket scoffed.
Thor poked at a few pancakes and placed it on his plate. Rocket followed his move and also scooped some eggs onto the plate. Natasha sighed as she sat at the barstool and her mind wandered.
There was no way she was going to tell Steve about it. Not now, and not ever. She did what she had to do and she saw her … family. Thor slapped some pancakes onto a plate and slid it over to Natasha with a grin.
"Eat," He stated and Natasha knew it was more of a demand than a suggestion.
"I'm not really hungry," Natasha lied and Rocket threw his fork down.
"What is with you kid? Where is the kick ass leader we had a mere few months ago? Why are you weak?" Rocket accused and Natasha glared at the small creature.
"I am not weak!" Natasha gritted.
"Look at you! Pouting, sad, what is this bullshit! You kicked ass!" Rocket continued.
"Rabbit, leave it alone," Thor demanded as Natasha glared at Rocket.
"What is going on?" Rocket pushed.
"It's the stone," Thor said and Rocket seemingly accepted that as an answer.
"Well be the Natasha I know not whatever this weak thing is. I'm loading up Thor, meet you out in twenty!" Rocket said and swiped his things and a few pancakes.
He grunted out the room and Natasha relaxed her face. She didn't turn to Thor but she knew he had something to say to her.
"Told him?" He asked.
"He has a new life, one that does not include me in it. I don't even know what I am giving birth to, if I do. I just have a ticking clock Thor and I need to figure it out alone," Natasha gritted.
"Natasha, you know better than that, we are a family, we spent far too long away from one another, and you are back, instead of seeing this as a sentencing, see it as a second chance. Do not hide from him, nor your child," Thor said and Natasha shrunk in her seat.
She was tired, she was mentally and physically exhausted. However, this was not something new, she had perfected playing roles for years and she just had to keep this one in check. She had to play the role of distant, and alone to keep Steve at bay.
"Go Thor, I'll be fine," Natasha said and cut at a pancake.
Her voice monotone, and tight but a little vulnerability vibrated through. She had to be fine, or this wasn't going to work out the way she wanted to.
Push them all away. It's just easier that way.
"I have a mission, but I will be back in a week's time, hopefully you have told Captain of your predicament," Thor said and stood up from his seat.
Natasha's eyes stared at the cut pancake and Thor placed his hand on her shoulder. He gripped it as Sam walked in with a tired Steve. They glanced as Thor quickly removed his hand from Natasha's shoulder and twirled Mjölnir over his shoulder.
"Farewell team, farwell Natasha," Thor said and grabbed a handful of sausage.
"Man! We were eating that!" Sam yelled as Thor chuckled out of the room.
Sam grunted and walked over to the fridge as Steve sat across from Natasha in silence. Sam muttered underneath his breath as he took out more sausage to cook and looked over at the two. Natasha focused on a pancake and Steve's gaze on her listless.
"So this isn't how I expected this to go," Sam said and started the conversation.
"Not everyday people come back from the dead," Natasha shot back as Sam smiled.
"Well if it was going to be anyone, it would be you," Sam said and started the stove.
He looked over at Steve hoping the stolic man would say something to Natasha but he just stared. Natasha looked up and caught Steve's gaze. He didn't turn away from her and she could see the sadness in his eyes as if he was hurting inside. She was hurting him and she wanted to stop the pain but how could she deal with her own pain. By shoving it deep inside of her, deep inside of her soul, and swallowing away all the hurt.
"Thanks but it was the stone," Natasha said and turned to Sam.
"What happened?" Steve asked and Natasha was visibly stunned that he had asked.
"I don't know," Natasha lied cooly and Steve wouldn't accept that as an answer.
"He told me nothing would fix this," Steve said and Natasha knew he was referring to Red Skull.
"He doesn't say much," Natasha scoffed.
"Well you're back so why mess with it?" Sam said as he cooked the sausage.
"What if there is something else attached to it?" Steve asked and Natasha swallowed the lump in her throat.
'For fuck sakes Steve drop it' Natasha thought as she could see the wheels turn in his head.
"Or it could be a blessing," Sam said and turned to Steve.
They shared a look, one Natasha tried to decipher but knew better than to try to figure it out. Why place herself in more pain and Steve sighed in defeat.
"I think I am going to talk to Fury about an assignment-"
Natasha was cut off by both Sam and Steve's objections.
"You need to rest," Sam said and Steve nodded.
"Last I checked I wasn't a child, and I can clearly take care of myself, I didn't die on Vomir by defeat but by choice," Natasha snapped.
"Okay but you also came back from the dead, and we don't know how!" Sam said and walked over to Natasha.
"Okay so what? Keep me bubble wrapped till what?" Natasha shot back.
"Maybe we can have Banner run some experiments to see if it's the stone or something else," Sam said as Steve nodded.
"Thanks for the suggestion boys but I know what I am doing, and I don't need the two of you to tell me what to do," Natasha said.
"For us Nat, just rest, just for a few days, until we have some semblance of how all of this worked out," Steve asked as Natasha sighed.
Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she knew her body needed rest. She also knew that she didn't know how she was going to combat and protect it. This time would give her a chance to compile the perfect cover story, and disappear.
Just a few days.
"Fine, and then I am going back to business," Natasha said.