One week later Natasha is heading down the hallway to locate Bruce. It's been a week of awkward and limited interactions focused on the kids and with him working until 3am to catch up on projects.
They try, but it's always uncomfortable and so avoiding hard conversations keeps the peace.
She tugs at her dark red dress, right earring in hand as she fastens her left. Pushing her way inside of the lab, she's eager to get on the road despite seeing him for the first time all day;
"Are you ready, Bruce?"
Banner in no rush to move, his eyes fall on the redhead. He's smitten;
"You look great, Tasha."
Her head stays low as she puts her other earring in, a warm blush underneath her makeup.
Tony is sitting on top of the desk, calmer than usual. Their somber state tells Romanoff the boys have been sharing in some sort of deeper, hard conversation.
Tony points with his pen, "Where are you going? Fancy dinner for two?"
"A private event and we're going to be late," Natasha answers quickly.
"Right," Bruce snatches his jacket.
She turns around abruptly and makes her way to the door.
Tony salutes, "Tell Clint congrats. I expect to be invited to the one year anniversary party."
She rolls her eyes, "Don't be offended about not receiving an invitation, it's Clint."
"Yeah, yeah!"
Romanoff looks up toward Banner as they walk down the hall, leaving Tony in the lab, "What were you two talking about?"
He taps his pockets for the keys, "Nothing."
Natasha lifts them from her own bag, "I'll drive."
"Did you have a decent morning?" he asks sincerely.
"Yes," they enter the elevator, moving quickly to the garage.
Natasha bites her cheek and climbs in to start the car, "The first few rooms are ready at the center. I asked a few agents to help us through the process."
"Okay," he sighs, focusing out of the window. She's back to talking about the kids and work.
Natasha takes a deep breath, her eyes momentarily low, "And I have a mission this week so I need you to clear my medical card."
"…Are you alright?"
Her eyelids are puffy and her voice keeps cracking, "I'm great."
He wants to scream, struggling to keep his voice low once they reach the highway.
"I can't do this."
"Do what?"
Bruce tugs his curls, "Please pull over for a second."
She lifts her eyebrows, frustrated over the traffic, "We're already late."
"Natasha, I really need you to."
Romanoff twists her lips and complies, shutting the car off with extra force. She crosses her arms.
He leans forward and turns to face her, "Can you talk to me?"
"There's nothing to talk about."
Bruce brushes the dashboard, "You just came back from a mission where you were locked up in a mansion with-."
"I don't want to revisit those memories-."
"I get it. But I love you and I need you to talk to me. I know you're hurting,' he moves to unlock the doors, 'You're going to let me drive, so that you can talk."
"I'm not talking."
"Yes you are. Even if it's an incoherent ramble. Switch."
"Your license is expired."
"I renewed it while you were gone last week."
"Bruce Banner!"
"Natasha Romanoff!"
Tears are in her eyes so she fixates forward and quickly moves her eyes from off of him.
He opens the driver side door to see the tears quietly slipping down her cheek. He waits patiently, a hand shoves in his pocket.
"Natasha."
She hides as brushes her cheek while he continues softly;
"I know you, Tasha. And you're not okay."
She inhales, "I need this to stop. So stop."
"Tasha, please. I know what it's like to be hurt by people you trust. By your father. By someone who is supposed to be there for you. I get, what it's like to be locked up for months."
Her head turns away from him.
Bruce has a band rested on top of their vehicle, looking out over the road where they've pulled over;
"I know what it's like to have someone you care about taken away from you. To hold them in your arms as they take their last breath. And it sucks. And it hurts. But you need to…you know? It's going to tear at you from the inside out."
Natasha covers her face, she can't breathe.
He sighs and looks back at her;
"You blame yourself even though it wasn't your fault- none of this was your fault. You don't want to hear any of this but it's okay to cry, more than once. It's normal to feel and to mourn. So, get it out of your head that it's not. You're not alone anymore. You don't need to hide, not from me."
Her head falls forward onto the steering wheel, letting her emotions spill out in full force. Bruce waits there, on the side of the road with a tentative hand on her shoulder. His thumb brushes her lovingly.
She takes an inhale, "Usually I can suppress it- but I've never been allowed to feel…It's overwhelming."
He nods and listens as she vaguely rambles, watching her hazel green eyes look up to meet him.
"It hurt what they did to me but,' she runs a hand through her done hair, messing it up a bit, 'We're going to be late. And I don't want to disappoint Clint."
He nods, "I'll drive if you keep talking."
Consenting to take the passenger seat, she shifts to the right. She's in no position to drive and being on time for her best friend's wedding is far too important.
Bruce sits momentarily in the silence, waiting until they get back onto the road before pushing her further;
"I want to hear about Alexei."
"Ugh, Bruce-."
"Not the bad stuff. I want to know who he was."
She drops her hand from her cheek to her lap and laughs lightly, "This is stupid."
"Trust me, hearing about your ex is not how I wanted to spend my Saturday. But it's therapeutic for you. And now it's hot in here,' he switches on the air, the vent aimed at her face to incite a chuckle he succeeds at receiving, 'Sorry."
Natasha brushes her hair back, "Alright! I'll talk. Just don't you dare aim the vent at my face again or I'll push you out of the car."
"Alright. So Alexei."
"Alexei…"
"…Well? I'm listening."
Natasha lifts a shoulder, "Well…He uh. He always knew the best places to find rassolnik …fun fact, rassol is great for hangovers."
"Of course you know that," He grins over her second huff of a laugh, rubbing at her shoulder and then reaching for her hand.
She immediately intertwines her fingers with his. It's a long ride, full of tears and awkward metaphorical teeth pulling.
Natasha feels a weight off her chest by the end of it, grateful for his patience and persistence.
Upon arriving at the snow covered cabin, Natasha gives Bruce a peck on his cheek and runs up the hill to stand behind Clint.
He's as dressed up as Clint can be, dark jeans and an untucked black polo shirt.
She hugs him from behind, "You look great."
"Hey, you made it,' he squeezes her arms and slips a ring in her palm, 'Hold that?"
"Yep."
Laura waves, standing opposite Clint in a basic dark blue quarter sleeved pleated dress. Their boots are both brown, a simple small bouquet of snowdrops in Laura's hand.
Her sister stands behind her, a total of five people standing in the 'audience.'
Bruce searches for a familiar face, finds Maria, and stands next to her.
Laura's father leads the quick and simple ceremony, offering plenty of personal touches.
Clint then shares his vows first, holding on tightly to Laura's free hand.
"I don't have anything life altering to say. Just that I love ya. And I can't wait for us to start our forever."
Laura is the happiest, simplest, tear free and carefree bride of the century. She nods with a brief reply;
"Me too. I love you Clint. I'm yours, now and always."
Her dad laughs lightly, crying more than either the bride or the groom, "Do we have rings to exchange."
Clint reaches behind him, taking the gold band from Natasha. He lifts it with a fare, "I carved it myself."
"Aww, Clint," Laura offers her hand, watching him slip it onto her fourth finger.
She reaches for her sister to take a band of her own. She tilts her head, "I didn't carve it, but I think you'll like it."
"Shit that's sick," he blushes and covers his mouth with the slip up, eyeing his now father-in-law.
Laura laughs, "Can I kiss him now daddy?"
He groans, "I think I have to say 'yes'."
The archer wraps his arms around her tightly. Laura's sister leads the cheer.
Natasha watches, her hands clasped before she remembers to reach behind her and hands Clint his bow.
Barton takes the arrow from Laura, helping her position and aim toward a tree they've carved their initials into. She bites her lip as they pull the bow back and fire it into their target. It's about as corny as the Barton couple will get for the day and Natasha will hold it over his head for all eternity.
The small dinner takes place inside the large cabin the couple have worked so hard on for the past year, lit by the fireplace and the various lanterns covered with simple white flowers.
Laura is enjoying herself with her sister and friend and Maria cracks open a beer, tapping her can with Clint's.
Barton reaches for a third to offer one to the physicist, "Come on man. It's my day. Drink one."
Bruce considers arguing. He relents instead, "Why not."
Barton laughs, "Hey! Cheers man."
Natasha makes her way to the makeshift dance floor, lifting her beer. She smiles;
"As, the groom's, best-woman, I think I'm obligated to embarrass him at this point in the evening."
Clint yells and chugs his beer, "Sit down Nat."
"Shut up. I'll be quick; Clint, you are my best friend. And I've known you for a long time but I can say with confidence that I've never seen you this happy. This is just the beginning of the journey you're starting together and well, speaking from experience it's not always easy. But. Having someone by your side who fights for you, who stands by you no matter what...I promise you, it's worth it. You guys are perfect for each other. Of all the girls you've dated, and there's been a handful, I don't think anyone is as long suffering, as awesome and as kind as Laura. So, to my best friend and my new sister, Laura."
Laura stands first, her hand in her husband's when she raises her glass. Barton chugs his beer and moves to hug Natasha;
"Gonna dance?"
She cringes, "I really hope your playlist consists of a little more than just country music."
He shrugs. Natasha rolls her eyes. He pouts, already having one too many.
"One! Dance."
After many undercover missions and various assignments, the friends seem to float as they glide through a peppy number.
Laura makes her way over after a bit, swapping in for Natasha.
The redhead circles around not entirely surprised when she meets Bruce out on the floor. She looks up with a smile as he holds her close. Her eyes close, their foreheads touching.
"I love you," he whispers.
She nods, allowing him to lead. Natasha let's her head fall onto his chest, content to hear his heartbeat;
"Are we okay?"
He kisses and whispers against her red hair, "We will be. I promise."
She wraps her arms around his waist and pulls him in a tight hug. Even if she has questions, he feels safe, he's her home.
Natasha looks up with a thought, "Riley and Violet call each other sisters."
She's back to working. He smiles, looking down at the redhead with raised eyebrows, "Uh huh..."
"That's the vibe I want at the center. No rivalry, just, one big awkward family."
Fury extends a hand to Maria who laughs initially. He reaches further, she rolls her eyes and gives in. Dancing with her boss in a cold cabin lit by a fire isn't what she had in mind for her Saturday, but in the words of Maria Hill;
"What the hell."
Izabella lays on her bed late at night with her eyes fixating on the ceiling above. She toys with a green orb full of energy she's created purely out of boredom. Her energy bends, her opposite hand breaking the mold and forming another.
She can't focus, her creativity reaching a peak over the past few weeks.
Izabella spins it casually, a small gust brushing her hair back. She's mesmerized, watching her power fill the room when she flips her hand to expand the green mist.
She can practically feel every thread of time and space. The green movement stills, replaced with various colors and shapes;
"Woah…"
Her gentle finger reaches for a particular glow, tempted to touch it.
Screams fill her mind. Haunting, dark and glowing yellow eyes visible through her orb. There's blood. Green and red stones shattering.
Mjolnir flies through the air. There's a rainbow roadway of sorts, shattering at the middle. Steve's shield is broken, pieces scattered in a city street.
A blonde aims her pistol with her blood-stained fingers. A dark haired girl in a teal Black Widow uniform holding her eyes as she screams- they're dark, vacant. She's blind…
Everyone is dressed in black beside two headstones. She knows those symbols…an hour glass, a radiation warning.
She gasps and drops her hands in a panic, breathlessly pulling all of the energy back inside of her.
"Izzy?!"
She answers Brody at the door, trying to compose herself.
The boy shrugs, pointing over his shoulder, "I know it's late but I can't sleep. Do you wanna watch a movie or something?"
Izabella agrees, forcing a smile for her new brother, "I get popcorn?"
"Great! We won't wake up your aunt?"
"Oh she not care. She join us."
"Wait! Really?!"
"Really."
"Wow. I can get used to this…!"
Izabella momentarily closes the door, still trying to stop hyperventilating over what she has just seen. Her heart pounds, lifting her hand to see remnants…those haunting glowing eyes…the headstones.
Izabella closes her fist once more and tries her best to compose herself. It's a bad dream and nothing more.
She moves to go join her new adopted brother and her aunt downstairs, forcing a smile and mustering as much normalcy as possible.
~Fin~