It's been almost a year since they killed Thanos and everyone had pretty much gone their separate ways. Natasha hasn't been able to locate Clint since and there were rumors of vigilante going around that matched his skill sets. She spent most of her free time searching for him but he was almost impossible to locate if he did not want to be found. Steve recently went to go "find himself" or figure out a solution to Thanos, which she didn't think he would find. Tony went off with Pepper and is currently avoided the spotlight and most people. Rhodey and Pepper keep her informed on his well being but Tony was too devastated to even interact with any of the remaining of the Avengers. That last she heard from them was that they had gotten married and she suspected that she would be hearing about a little Stark soon. Thor went off to New Asgard and she hasn't heard from him since. She was the only one who ran the base and kept the compound clean. Even then it still got a little boring. There was not a lot drama in the world that needed the Avengers help.
She sighed as she looked at the clock. It was close to six o'clock. Rhodey, Okoye, Marvel, nor Rocket were likely to call the rest of the day. She stood up and stretched her back. She wandered into the kitchen and opened up the fridge and cabinets. She swore when she noticed that she forgot to grab groceries.
She grabbed her keys and jacket from the counter and decided to run to the store. In generally, she didn't like to run outside anymore. It used to be that running would make her feel connected to the world. Now, it just made her feel their defeat even more. Most of the city was abandoned or at least looked that way. Sometimes you see people out, normally looters. Most of the business had been condensed into certain areas because it was easier to get to. The nearest grocery store was also in an area with a clinic, clothing store, and pharmacy. Natasha only ventured out when necessary.
She arrived outside the market area covered in sweat and slowed her jog to a walk. She entered the grocery store and went straight to the cereal aisle. It was the easiest to make and she didn't have the most advanced cooking skills.
"Hello Natasha," a voice said from behind her.
Nat turned around and gave a friendly smile to the man, "Hello Wilde." Doctor Jamie Wilde. They had met a few months earlier on one of her sparse grocery runs. He ran the clinic next door and they were always friendly towards each other. He was tall with dark hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. He had a nice jaw line and body. Many of the newly single women she saw often tried to flirt with him.
He rolled his eyes, "I told you to call me Jamie."
She shrugs, "I like last names better."
He gestures towards the cereal, "You choose between sugar and sugar yet?"
"Do you have an issue with my eating habits?"
"I rarely ever see you leave here with actual food. Unless your having company."
She raises an eyebrow, "You're observant."
He shrugs, "Old habit. You really should eat actually food."
"But cereal is so good."
He chuckles, "Not really."
Her eyebrows raised, "Not really?"
He shrugged, "It's not that good. I prefer real food. Tell you what. If I cook you a meal better than cereal, you have to eat a real meal once a week. If it's not, I will eat cereal every day for a week."
"Are you asking me on a date?"
"Are you refusing a challenge?"
She chuckles, "Never."
He grins and begins to walk away, "Great. I'll be at your place by eight with actual food."
She looks at him surprised at that he knew where she lived. That also meant that he knew who she was. He laughs when he sees her face, "Steve is a pretty recognizable guy. I'm really glad that you two were just roommates."
She shakes her head in astonishment as she watches him walk out of the store. What have I gotten myself into.
At eight o'clock Friday alerted her that there was a man at the door. She glanced at the camera and sure enough Jamie was standing outside the door with a paper bag of groceries in one hand.
She smoothed down her hair as she said, "Fri, let him in."
She met Jamie in the hallway as he was looking around the beginnings of the compound.
She smirks, "Admiring where the Avengers used to live?"
He turns towards her with a smile, "Nope. Just sizing up where my date lives."
She shakes her head, "What are you going to make?"
"It's a surprise."
"I don't like surprises."
"You're going to love this one."
She gestures for him to follow her, "Kitchens this way."
They entered the kitchen and he set the bag down. He gestures towards the cabinets, "Do you even know where anything is?"
She shakes her head, "I'm not much of a cook. How'd you figure out who I was?"
He began taking out bread, peanut butter, and grape jelly from the bag.
"I met Steve a while back. Helped him fend off a few haters. He mentioned you sometimes."
"Are you making peanut butter and jelly? That's really your epic plan?"
"You can't judge since you eat cereal everyday. Plus this is a sophisticated sandwich reserved for good things. Unlike a plain peanut butter sandwich."
She rolled her eyes and decided to ignore his 'good thing' bit, "Yeah but peanut butter and jelly? I have never heard of that sandwich referred to as sophisticated."
He lays out four pieces of bread. He unscrews the peanut butter cap and begins to spread the peanut butter on two of the pieces of bread.
"It's an emotionally sophisticated sandwich."
"An emotionally sophisticated sandwich?"
He nods as he begins to apply the jelly to other to pieces of bread.
"It also has magically powers."
"You're telling me that this emotionally sophisticated sandwich has powers?" she asks while putting air quotes around 'emotionally sophisticated'.
He nods again as he carefully combines each peanut butter slice with their corresponding jelly slice. He then takes a knife and cuts the sandwiches in half diagonally.
He looks up, "Where are your glasses?"
She points to the top cabinet and he reaches up and grabs two of them. He then reaches in the bag and pulls out a carton of milk. He pours to glasses and slides the milk into her almost empty fridge.
He then hands her her plate and glass.
"Bon Appetite. I promise you this sandwich will be worth it."
"I highly doubt that."
He locks eyes with her, "Try it."
She bites into and it tasted really good. At first she thought it was just because she hadn't tasted non cereal since Steve, but there was something amazing about the simplicity of the sandwich.
Jamie smirked, "I know that look. You are hooked."
She groans, "Yes. I suppose I have to start eating real food now. Although there is no way you can actually track what I'm eating."
"Oh I think we can make this a weekly thing," he said casually as he bit his sandwich. He then froze and looked at her, "If that's okay with you? I enjoy your company."
She swallows. She surprisingly enjoyed his company as well. It was lonely sometimes. Catching up with her friends always reminded her and them of what they all had lost. It always ended somber. There was no past with Jamie.
She nods, "It's okay with me."
He smiled, "Good. There are many more foods I want to introduce you to."
"I'm looking forward to it as long as I can introduce you to the world of cereal."