Sorry for the long delay. I was wrestling with this for such a long time. The final chapter before we are hitting the mess that is Civil War.
I have never worked for the Red Cross, everything I know is from my trusty friend google!
"You wanna tell me what's going on with you?" Sarah pinned her friend down with a stare.
"I don't know what you mean." Natasha shrugged her shoulders and cradled her coffee cup closer.
"Please Nat." Sarah scoffed, the spatula stabbed at her friend sitting in front of her "I'm not stupid. Why do you keep pushing Steve at me."
"I just think you two would be perfect for each other." Natasha said primly and was met with two raised eyebrows.
"Try to sell it somewhere else." Sarah looked expectantly at her friend but she wasn't forthcoming with information, the waffle maker beeped, relieving Nat of Sarah's attention.
"I just..." Sarah started while lifting the waffle onto a plate. She stopped herself, when she heard someone coming down the stairs.
Moments later Steve appeared in the doorway and smiled "I knew I could smell waffles."
He hovered next to Natasha who sat on the bar stools at the oven kitchen island.
"I wasn't too sure what you are drinking in the morning, Steve. Coffee, tea or some juice?"
A slight embarrassed smile crept onto his features and Natasha hid a snort in her coffee mug.
"What?" Sarah looked at them.
"You super soldiers do eat breakfast, don't you?"
Steve scratches his neck "Sure, sure."
Sarah tilted her head, waiting for his answer. "I'll have a hot chocolate, please." Steve mumbled.
"Ok." Sarah grinned to herself while Natasha burst out laughing. "That Never gets old, Cap. America's hero doesn't need caffeine to keep him going. What would the world say about that?" Her right eyebrow quirked challenging, expecting a response.
"Could be worse." Sarah shrugged while putting a cup of milk in the microwave to heat it up.
"Thank you! Finally someone who understands."
"It could have been a glass of milk."
Natasha bowed over laughing, gripping on Steve's arm to not loose her balance "That's his other favourite."
Steve looked indignantly at the two women. "You are making fun of me aren't you?"
"Us, never?!" Sarah exclaimed while making a little cross over her heart.
Natasha still chuckled and clutched onto Steve's arm, her head resting on his bicep. Sarah smiles looking at her friend, when Nat met her gaze she subtly nodded to Nat's hands still holding onto Steve.
As if she was burnt the redhead let go of her partner and shot her friend a glare.
Sarah smirked and then handed Steve a cup of hot chocolate "Breakfast is ready!" She herded both avengers to the table where the trio tucked into waffles, fruits and discussed which new London attraction to take Steve for the day.
The weather had been kind to them, the October sun shone brightly bathing London in a soft light that only exists in autumn and makes everything look a bit out of focus. Climing the steps of St. Paul's Cathedrale had been Steve's highlight, seeing the city spread out in front of him, he wished he'd taken his drawing pad with him. He reduced himself to take tons of pictures with his StarkPhone that he slowly got to grips on how to use. Sarah talked him and Nat into taking some selfies before arranging them infront of the balustrade to take a picture of the two Avengers. Steve sneaked his arm around Natasha, only to not take up too much space of the ither visitors, and beamed brightly at Sarah who took the snapshot with her phone.
A little while later they crossed London Bridge and retreated into a small pub around the corner from Sarah's place.
"This was the best day." Steve leaned against a table in a dark pub and smiled at Natasha. He watched Sarah standing at the bar waiting for their drink order. "We should do this more often."
"What Steve?"
"Visiting friends, having a drink in a bar, going sight seeing." He emptied the last of his beer before he spoke again "Being normal."
"Steve." Natasha sighed "The only reason we are here is because..."
"I know, I know. But wouldn't it be nice." His head was bent down to Natasha, trying to keep the conversation and if he could take a sneaky whiff of her shampoo, even better.
"Yeah it would be nice." Natasha said wistfully.
Stepping out of the carrier Natasha tried to regain her bearings. Where are the others?
She couldn't believe it, Fury saves the day again. One moment she was almost content to die alongside Steve in the crushing city of Sokovia and one moment later they were on a carrier flown to safety.
Natasha watched the people of Sokovia disembark, searching for loved ones or being transported to tents with red crosses on them that had appeared suddenly.
Her gaze found Tony, he looked like he was going to vomit, all this destruction. The witch, Wanda she reminded herself was helped down by Steve, she could only imagine how empty she must feel after her brother died.
The Hulk had disappeared and taken Bruce Banner god knows where - Rejection spread in her chest - from the one who could relate to being a monster. Deep in her thoughts she helped Clint who was still bleeding of the carrier and towards the tents.
The throng of people became thicker more like a swarm, disjointed cries for doctors and lost loved ones could be heard.
Steve fell into step with her and Clint, Wanda in his arms. A silent decision was made that the girl needed to get checked out by a doctor that wasn't wearing tactical gear, preferably. The witch had shaken like a leaf when a SHIELD paramedic tried to ascertain her injuries.
"Fucking honestly!" Nat turned around quickly, she recognised that agitated voice anywhere. Sarah stood in the autumn breeze, a too large Red Cross hoodie hung of her frame, hands on her hips.
"I'll leave you alone for two weeks and you start blowing up countries?!"
"I...I..." Natasha didn't think she ever felt that relieved to see her friend.
The last week was agony!
The memories forced on her from Wanda, Clint revealing his family to the others, Ultron, Sokovia and then Bruce. Natasha drew in a shaky breath before dropping Clint on a nearby chair, two steps later she stood in front of her friend.
In her heeled boots Nat was the same height as her, before she could say anything else, Natashas forehead dropped to her shoulder and the spy closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Shocked Sarah lifted her arms around Nat and squeezed tight, she could feel her shaking. Her questioning eyes met Steve's but the Cap only closed his eyes quickly, his lips drawing into a tight line.
Her hands gliding in soothing motions down Natasha's back and arms, giving her a couple minutes to gather her thoughts.
When she could feel her friend relax she whispered into her ear: "Who is that girl and why is she wearing your leather jacket."
A quiet chuckle escaped Natasha "Apparently she's on our side now."
"Ok. But that doesn't the answer why she's wearing your jacket."
Natasha lifted her head and wanted to start into what Sarah was doing here, when her friend released her out of their hug, Sarah cut her off "Do you need a medic?"
"I'm fine...I think. But she." Natasha gestures to the girl still in Steve's arms "She needs one. A civilian one if you got."
"We only have civilian anything, Nat. We are the Red Cross not the military."
The two exchanged a glance, a silent conversation taken place. "Later, Nat. Ok?"
"Ok."
"Hey boss!" someone shouted across the areal and Sarah turned "Your office has arrived. Where do you want to have it."
Sarah smiled, she was finally back to where she belonged, in the ERU, helping people, not trying to wrangle money and support from idiot politicians and hard headed CEO's.
Jogging over to the lorry she directed the Logistics Team towards the grassy patch that was designated for it.
Usually it took up to 48 hours for the Red Cross to dispatch emergency response units, but a call from a certain 'billionaire - genius - philanthropist' got red tape cut pretty quickly.
Stepping into the tent, Sarah and her team busied themselves to setting up laptops, satellite phone and Sarah prayed that the internet connection was working soon.
"Knock, knock." Tony pushed the flap of the tent to the side. Several heads turned to him and gasped seeing him still in part of his Iron Man armour.
"Mr. Stark." Sarah greeted him "What can I do for you?" He nodded his head for her to follow him outside.
"I'll be right back."
Stepping out of the tent, "Do you mind if we walk while we talk? I need to bring this to the hospital."
"Sure." Tony followed her and Sarah repeated her question.
"First of all you can call me Tony. Mr. Stark was my father." Sarah smiled and nodded
"Alright, Tony."
"And then you can tell me how your brother is?"
Sarah laughed out loud "Shouldn't you know that better, he is heading up your space department."
"I'm not interested in work news, I want the gossip only a little sister could have. Pepper brought some interesting flight patterns to my attention, Paris, Venice and Bora Bora are not really business destinations."
Sarah looked at him funny.
"I mean don't get me wrong, I'm all for it if he gets laid, he needed it to be honest." At that Sarah pulled a face, certain things a little sister just doesn't want to know.
"Sorry...sorry." Tony realised his mistake "but honestly he just doesn't say anything when I ask him, so I thought maybe you know..." he trailed off.
"Tony, look around. Is this really the right time or place to talk about my brothers sex life?" She gestured at the destruction around them "and for future reference there never is."
"Is later now?"
"Yeah."
Sarah motioned for Natasha to sit down in the little porter cabin they installed for her.
"You really think being here will be alright?"
No foreplay then, well if Natasha wanted to dive right in.
"I was the only one available." She tried at first, but was met with a single raised eyebrow, how the fuck was she doing that anyway? Sarah tried to teach it herself for years now.
"And the only one that volunteered and was ready to go within the hour."
"Sarah!"
"It's my job, Nat. All that shmoozing, giving lectures was just until they cleared me."
"And they did?"
"I'm on a break from my break. Until this has been sorted out and someone else becomes available."
"That's not the same."
Sarah nodded and then shrugged her left shoulder "I take what I can get. How else can I prove that I'm ready to be back in the field, if not in the field."
"Believe me, if someone gets it, it's me..."
"You guys have more depressing shit happen to you every single day. And you still jump into the fight."
"It's not the same." Natasha repeated herself, how can Sarah not understand that she needed to be save.
The one person in her life that belongs to her and who isn't touched by the daily darkness that consumes, who isn't related to the red in her ledger.
The case seems to be closed, they both knew if they didn't stop now it could turn ugly and hurtful.
"That was quite the welcome i got earlier on." Sarah left the sentence vague, if Nat wanted to delve further she'd pick it up if not then there was nothing that would make the spy talk.
"Didn't expect to see...it was a surprise." Natasha mumbled.
"Good surprise?"
"Always." The two women smiled at each other.
"Who's the girl?" Sarah prodded lightly.
Natasha sighed "First an enemy, apparently now an ally."
Trying to gather her thoughts "she just lost her brother."
She chanced a glance at Sarah. Her friends eyes shone with compassion, she grabbed Sarah's hand before continuing.
"The destruction in Africa...that was us...she messed with our minds. Effectively knocking us either out or making the rage worse."
Nat thought back to Bruce, how not even Veronica could contain him and herself catatonic from some memories. "She showed us things, the future, the past or our worst nightmares." Sarah squeezes her hand. "I was back...back in the red room."
Sarah closed her eyes, trying to hide the hurt that she felt on her friends behalf.
"Then this shit show" Natasha continued "I made Bruce turn into the other guy, I just had promised him, I'd run away with him. What does that make me? A manipulating bitch? Someone that doesn't stop at anything to win? Disregarding his feelings, and now he is gone. I made him leave! I'm no better than Fury or the red room. I'm manipulating, conniving and..."
"Hey!" Sarah interrupted "you are my friend! So stop talking about yourself that way! I won't have it."
"But"
"No! Now listen to me...and we come to you running away with Bruce soon.
You are not manipulating or conniving. In a shitty situation you made some tough decisions. Were those the right ones? Who the fuck knows. Believe me the politicians and media will tell you real soon. But they needed to be made and you made them.
And I bet all of my meagre savings and my KitchenAid, that you made those with only one goal in mind - to save as many people as you can. Sacrificing yourself in the fucking process. So no, you are not like Fury or like the red room. And if I ever hear you say that again, I'll kick your ass."
Sarah fixed Natasha with a stare, willing her to see that she meant every single word.
"Since you got out, all of your decisions were made to save people, and that includes rescuing me. So on behalf of all of us. Thank you Natasha Romanoff. You are a good person!"
She pressed a kiss to Nats forehead.
"I can't believe you'd bet your KitchenAid, you love that thing!" The two of them started to giggle. "See how serious i take this, it's my most priced possession."
Some rustling was heard from outside and suddenly the door opened, almost ripped out of its angles.
"Lady Natasha, we were looking for you! The avengers are ready to depart." Thor boomed into the small space.
Sarah's eyes widened, the god of thunder filled out all of the door way and then some.
"Am I intruding?" He ducked his head to step into the porter cabin and glanced at the intertwined hands of the two women.
"I didn't realise you were with your beloved?"
Natasha snorted "She isn't my beloved Thor. She is my best friend."
Standing up and dragging Sarah by their linked hands Natasha turned to her friend.
"Thor, I like you to meet Sarah Enders. Sarah this is Thor."
"It's such a pleasure to meet a friend of the Lady Natasha!" He Booms at Sarah and shakes her hand vigorously.
"The next time there are revels after a fight you must come and join us!"
Sarah smirked, Thor seemed great fun. "If you invite me, I'll definitely will Thor. Revels sounds like fun."
"He means a party." Natasha clarified.
"I know that! And come to think of that Romanoff where was my invite to these previous revels?"
"Must have gotten lost in the post." Natasha snarked back "only good girls who do what their therapist tells them gets invited to the post fight revels."
"Ah where would be the fun in actually listening to those therapists jabbering on."
Natasha threw her hands in the air "Impossible! You're fucking impossible."
"And you love me anyway."
Joining the waiting avengers, Sarah smiled and waved at Clint whom she met once and then surprised the rest when she pressed a kiss to Steve's cheek.
"I trust you with my best friend. Don't let me down."
Captain America nodded solemnly and kissed her cheek right back.
Thor patted her back in goodbye almost making her keel over reiterating his invite to join them for the next session of revels.
Another big hug for Natasha and then the avengers boarded the quinjet left behind for them.
"Oh Tony!" Sarah yelled, before the landing ramp could close.
She pulled an old photograph out of her jeans pocket.
"Use it wisely!"
"What is it?"
"I'm the little sister, I have all of the blackmail material."
"Oh, Mini Max I adore you!" Tony jumped down the ramp and pressed a massive kiss on her lips.
"Don't loose it, it's one of my favourites!"
"You'll have it back as soon as I was able to make copies." He crossed his fingers over his heart as a promise. "Why do you give it to me?"
"I owe you big time, you send Natasha to rescue me and you gave me my best friend."
"I'd say now we are even!"
He jumps back onto the jet "Any Chance you have more of these?"
"Nope - I'll still need my own blackmail material!"
With that the jet lifted off, leaving Sarah standing in the ruins of Sokovia.