DISCLAIMER: ALL CHARACTERS BELONG TO MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE.
The rating of this story has CHANGED from T to M now, due to sexual content. Please bare this warning in mind if you decide to continue reading.
~0~0~0~0~0~
It was a lot to take in - all of it. So much so, that Steve felt as if he was drowning in the sea of information that he was trying to process.
Earth was facing a threat from outer space, that no one know just how dangerous or powerful it was, but knew Thanos would stop at nothing until he held all six infinity stones. One of his 'children' had taken Dr Strange, and therefore the time stone, and Tony Stark had gone after them. No one had heard from Iron Man since, and Steve was starting to feel uneasy that the man he had worked alongside for all those years was most definitely in grave danger.
Everything about this felt different.
His new suit was different, curtesy of the deal he and Natasha had made with Fury months ago. The threat facing the entire world was different; deadly, unknown, restless, merciless. The cost of failure, although still the same in many ways, felt different this time, heavier; Vision was willing to sacrifice his entire life, his entire existence, to prevent Thanos from getting what he wanted, if where the Avengers were heading now couldn't offer help.
Steve understood sacrifice. He understood the importance that one life could have in shifting the tide, in tilting the weights of fate. He had put his own life on the line countless times, without a second thought.
Even deep in his thoughts, he searched for Natasha. She was piloting the jet, and hadn't spoken since they had become airborne, apart from arguing with Banner, when he had offered to take over flying for a little while. Steve knew it was because she needed something to focus on, something that demanded her attention every second - despite the fact everyone knew that Natasha was skilled enough to fly this jet with her eyes closed.
Even from his angle across the jet from her, he could see that stiffness in her jaw, that rise of her chin that was intentional to make her look untouchable. Knowing her heart as well as he knew his own, Steve knew that she too was scared. It would be foolish to not be scared. Natasha knew exactly what was at stake, and sat behind the pilot controls, she was too was processing what was about to be asked of them, of all of them.
The sight of her, although it eased him, also made his heart feel impossibly heavier. Their missions together had always been laced with danger, or possible harm coming to either of them, but they had faced all of them and come out the other end stronger than before. But now, even that felt different.
Because if anything was to happen to his wife...he couldn't even think about that. He couldn't fathom that sort of thing. It would cut him open and destroy him, cause him to make rash decisions that could jeopardise her more, and put the whole team at a disadvantage. He was a leader, and that called for him to make decisions that weren't based off personal relationships. Even though in doing so, he was basically slicing his own heart in half.
His mind couldn't help but wonder what he would do, if it was Natasha who held the infinity stone, who was offering her own life to protect all of theirs. He knew he would go to the end of the Earth and back, through Hell and worse, to find another option, any option that would prevent that from happening.
But, he also knew that if he was in Vision's shoes, there was nothing he wouldn't do to keep Natasha safe, even if he could prevent everything by offering his own life.
Therefore, he could not blame Vision for his selfless offer, and he could not blame Wanda for begging him to not go through with it. He couldn't blame either of them, because Steve knew how it felt to love someone that much, and he knew that what he and Natasha had was much stronger, because they had had time that Vision and Wanda deserved to experience.
But, the years he had spent with Natasha were not enough. They deserved so much more, and so he would fight with everything he had, not just to protect the world, but for the future that he wanted with Natasha. The future that they had earned, time and time again.
As if she sensed his thoughts, Natasha glanced over her shoulder and met his gaze. The smile she gave him, although small, lit her eyes with unspoken emotion, and from that smile, she gave him all the strength that he needed. Finally, he was able to breathe again, as the weight on his shoulders was eased just slightly.
~0~0~0~0~0~
When her eyes started to grow tired of the view of endless sky and clouds, and her entire body felt achy and stiff from sitting for so long, Natasha finally accepted Banner's offer of taking over pilot duties. With a gentle tease to him to not let the 'Big Guy' try to play with the controls, Natasha stood and stretched her arms over her head, feeling her sore muscles finally loosen. Searching round the jet, she did a quick assessment.
Vision and Wanda were nowhere in sight, and she was glad that they could have a few sacred moments of privacy, to prepare themselves for what was round the corner. Rhodey had just woken up from a nap and was now pacing, claiming that if he sat still for too long, he always had an irrational fear that his legs would stop functioning again. Probably, like the rest of them, he just felt like he should be doing something, even if it was just walking back and forth. Sam was entertaining himself with a pack of cards, and when he caught Natasha's questioning gaze, he tilted his head to the left.
Thanking him with a dip of her head, Natasha crossed the jet and headed down to the left, where the smaller compartments were situated beneath the main floor. This jet was a newer model, but she hadn't had it in her to admire the new technology and weapons it housed onboard.
She found her husband lying on a cot. The cot itself wasn't exactly small, but Steve's muscular physique drowned it. He looked up as she entered the room, closing the door softly behind her. "Hey, trouble," His voice held a hint of relief in it that she didn't miss, and one that tugged at her heart.
"Hey, back." She said, slipping onto the cot beside him and instantly snuggling against his side, her hand resting on his stomach while her head pressed down against his chest. Slowly but surely, the beating of his heart soothed her, as did the scent of cinnamon and pine that belonged to him.
Neither of them spoke for a few minutes, letting themselves find peace in the quiet around them, but also find comfort in each others presence. Steve's arm wrapped around her, holding her close, and his hand stroked calming circles onto her back.
"I'd give anything for this jet to be heading towards the Caribbean right now." Natasha said, breaking the silence before it became too heavy. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but it just sounded as if she was admitting defeat already, which was something that she would never allow herself to do.
Steve chuckled, the sound deep and vibrating against her body. "After all this is over, we're going to the Caribbean, for a very long time." He promised, but she knew better than to think that he was being helplessly optimistic. He was just trying to make her feel better.
"We have to find another way, Steve." She whispered, looking across the room at nothing in particular, just a dark corner. "For Vision. I can't...he shouldn't have to make this decision."
Her husband kissed her hair softly. "Shuri is brilliant. The most brilliant mind in the entire world. I have every faith that she will have a plan of action when we arrive. It might take a while longer than we expect, but I believe that she can do this. I wouldn't...I wouldn't have involved Wakanda if I didn't believe that." Ah, so he was feeling guilty about contacting T'Challa, because it brought the King and his people into something that they hadn't played a part in.
"Steve," She said firmly, tilting her head up so their eyes could meet. She held his gaze, and could see just how torn he was feeling. "This threat faces the entire world. That includes Wakanda." No, there was no way she was going to let that guilt of his eat away at him, especially when what he had done hadn't been an act of selfishness. Her statement was true; Wakanda would not have been spared from this threat, not even with their barriers and protection, not when Thanos clearly nothing but death and destruction.
Steve's hand continued stroking circles against her back, between her jacket and shirt so she could feel the warmth of his touch. "How do you do it, Nat?" He whispered. "Keep me steady, even when I can't even see the way myself?"
"You do the same for me." Reaching up, she kissed him lightly, a brush of her lips against his, but even the sweetest of kisses still left her body tingling. "We're our strongest when we are together, Steve. We always have been. I love you, with all my heart and more."
For the first time in a long time, Steve's body relaxed. The dangers that faced him were pushed to the back of his mind, as his wife's voice, scent and presence surrounded him. "I love you, Nat."
As easily as it would have been to loose themselves in each other, Natasha knew that what they both needed was sleep, even if it would only be for a very short period of time. Their bodies and mind needed to rest, to prepare for what was waiting for them. So, she kissed him once more, and settled back against him.
Only when Steve's hand stopped it's circular motion, did she know that her husband had finally drifted off. Only then, did she allow her own exhausted body to find sleep.
~0~0~0~0~0~
For the first time in years, a nightmare found its way to Steve's mind, and he was powerless against it.
He had no idea where he was, only that he was standing on a rocky patch of land, which may have once been a field, before everything on it had withered away to black dust and stones. Even the sky here was not right; stained in colours of inky blue, purple, black. Not a single star in sight.
In front of him, the land disappeared, suggesting the edge of what seemed to be a cliff. But, when the ground fell away, it fell to nothing but darkness. Endless, cold darkness. Steve's breathing was growing heavier and heavier, his palms turning sweaty as he spun in never-ending circles, searching for anything - anything - that would help him figure out what was happening.
Then, a figure appeared at the edge of the clearing, and it was the last person he ever wanted to see here with him, in this horrible land of emptiness and shadows.
Hands covering her stomach, her hair flowing behind her from the bitter wind, her gaze locked on him. The sight of her, surrounded by this horrible place, made Steve feel as if he had been gutted.
"Natasha?" Her name came out strained, and with every blink of his eyes, he wished that she would disappear, that she wouldn't be stood here with him, lost as he was. That she would go, and be somewhere safe. Anywhere but here.
The wind picked up, cutting through him, and Natasha's face became more apparent as he took a step towards her. Then, another step. And another. Natasha's beautiful face glistened, with tiny silvery trails that cascaded down her cheeks. Crying. His wife was crying.
But, he couldn't take another step towards her. Something held him back. Something invisible, but it wrapped around him like a vine, holding him back from where he wanted to go so desperately. "Natasha, take my hand." He extended his hand to her, his fingers reaching. Fear and panic trickled into his voice as the woman he loved made no attempt to approach him. "Nat, please. Take my hand. Natasha!"
Her emerald eyes were glassy when she met his gaze, colourless and empty. "Why have you failed me, Steve?" She whispered.
"Natasha, please. We need to go." He forced his arm to stretch even more, so much so that the muscles in his arm stretched in protest. "Take my hand. We need to go home."
She remained where she was, staring at him as if...as if he was now a stranger to him. "Why have you failed me, Steve?" She repeated, her voice trembling. Not with sadness. With rage. With disappointment so bitter that it stabbed at him, sharper than any blade.
"Natasha, take my hand!" He practically shouted at her, his voice pleading with her over the growing wind. It sliced against his ears, gliding over his skin like ice, but he never once moved his eyes from her face. That beautiful face of the strongest woman he had ever met. He was not leaving her here…
Natasha blinked, an action that sent fresh tears streaming down her face. "Steve," She all but whimpered, but she lifted a hand towards him.
Too late, he realised why she had been holding her stomach. A wound to the abdomen, making her back hunch slightly forward, staining her dark clothes, causing the copper scent of blood to fill the air. Her palm and fingers were red, coated with her own blood, as she reached for him. It dropped from her outstretched fingers.
Although there was no sign of that beastly woman anywhere, Midnight's voice found Steve, "Your pretty wife is the first that will die because of you, Captain. You are foolish to believe you can protect this world, when you cannot even protect the one who means the most to you."
Then, as the blood loss overtook her, Natasha's body crumbled beneath her, just as the earth beneath them shook. Steve, still held back by whatever gripped his body, could only watch as the end of the world fell away before his eyes, and Natasha was gone.
He woke with a start, hearing someone say his name over and over again. His chest heaved, his lungs desperate for any oxygen they could get. Sweat coated him, and it took him a long while before he recognised the voice saying his name, the person crouched next to him on her knees, her hand resting over his racing heart.
"Breathe," She instructed him firmly. "Now."
She was here. Natasha was her. His eyes scanned her frantically. No blood. No wound. She was here, with him. That horrible place was gone. It had been a nightmare. Just a nightmare. No matter how many times he repeated those facts in his head, he couldn't shake off the fear that had overwhelmed him.
"Steve," Natasha's other hand cupped his cheek, but not to comfortingly stroke his cheek. No, instead, she used it to guide his chin, to make him look into her eyes. "Breathe, baby. It was just a nightmare."
He practically collapsed against her there and then, her spy reflexes aiding her in wrapping her arms around his shoulders and steading them both. She stroked down his spine, something he always did whenever he wanted to comfort her. Continuously, she whispered into his ear that she was here, that it had been a nightmare, that he was okay. Slowly, the fear started to lessen, but it remained in the back of his mind.
Burying his nose against her neck, he breathed in and out, drawing in her scent, needing it to stop himself from losing it. "Natasha," Her name felt like a prayer on his lips, like a song.
She continued to comfort him, to hold him as he gathered himself. Again, he had to force himself to believe that it had been a nightmare. The most horrible nightmare, but a figment of his imagination all the same.
"I lost you, Natasha." He whispered, knowing he had to talk to her about it, knowing that she would help him understand that everything was fine, because nothing had actually happened to her. "My biggest fear is losing you, Nat. I...I failed you. You were gone. I lost you."
Hushing him gently, Natasha leaned her cheek against the top of his head. "I'm right here, exactly where I belong. With you." She reassured him. "Listen to my voice, Steve. Listen to me. Feel me. I'm here." She guided one of his hands to her face, so she could kiss his palm gently. "I'm here. It's okay. I'm here."
Everything caught up with him in one single moment, the impact winding him. He felt the tears escape his eyes, and he felt Natasha as she leaned forward and kissed away every single one of them.
"I'm here." She repeated against his skin. "It's okay. I'm here. With you. We're okay."
When she kissed him, Steve's body trembled in shere relief. Natasha let him control the kiss, leaning back and drawing him with her, so he was above her. The feeling of her underneath him brought him comfort, and when their kiss ended, Steve remained above her, keeping his weight from crushing her. His head fell to the crook of her neck. He counted her every breath. He closed his eyes and listened, feeling her body pressed against his. His heart eased, and the fear that had been so terrifying eased until it disappeared all together.
"We're okay." Natasha whispered into his ear, her hand playing with the strands of his hair by the nape of his neck.
Once his body finally stopped shaking, Steve looked down at her. He was not ashamed of crying in front of her. It wasn't the first time. It just showed how much he needed this wonderful woman, how much he truly depended on her to keep him steady, to keep him happy and remind him why he fought every day to make the world a better place.
Her eyes were soft and understanding as she looked up at him. "Make love to me, Steve."
"Natasha, you don't have to-"
She silenced him with a powerful defiant kiss. "I need this too, Steve. I need to feel you, inside me. The two of us as one." She said against his lips, kissing him a second time. "We need this, Steve. Please." The look in her eyes, the tone in her voice, showed him that she meant it. She needed this, too.
In his next kiss, he hoped it portrayed just how much he loved her, as hands moved to strip off their suits and their bare bodies lined up together, like two pieces of a puzzle. As if she was made for him, and him for her. In so many ways, that was exactly the truth for them. His hands glided down her body, tracing every line, appreciating every curve, mapping every inch. Her own hands did the same, brushing down the muscles of his arms and back, and with every touch, she eased the horrible tension from him. Their kisses were slow, devouring but still steady, taking their time, swallowing moans from both of them.
In one smooth movement of his hips, Steve was inside her, and the feeling almost knocked the wind out of him again. She was perfect, always so perfect, and this feeling that was created from both of them being joined like this was something that he would never be able to put into words, or understand. As he started to move within her, Natasha's moan was proof that she felt exactly the same way.
With each minute spent with her, with his heart open and his fears clear, Steve's heart stopped racing, and his mind stopped pounding. He appreciated every single second, and showed that by how his mouth roamed along her jaw, down her throat, to her breasts. Natasha writhed underneath him, her hips encouraging his to continue, to never stop.
It was more than sex, so much more. It was the combination of their souls, of their love that was fierce enough to fight off any demon that stirred within them. Steve felt his bravery return to him, because of her. Although that nightmare would probably remain at the back of his mind for a long time, Steve was able to breathe again, to focus purely on Natasha.
When they gave in to their releases, after trying to last out as long as possible, Natasha couldn't resist making a comment about how they could finally cross 'jet' off their list, to which Steve laughed, and it was the best sound she had ever heard. As they lay together on that small cot, Steve told her just how much he loved her, how she was his entire world. Natasha listened, stroking his cheek lovingly, before returning his sentiment with a fire in her emerald eyes.
That fire gave him hope.
~0~0~0~0~0~
As the hidden city of Wakanda materialised right before her eyes, Natasha's breath caught in her throat. So many memories came from here, some of the happiest memories of her life. As the jet flew over a particular waterfall, she allowed herself to smile, truly smile, for the first time in hours.
"Feeling a bit nostalgic, sweetheart?" Steve asked as he joined her, coming to stand behind her, those strong arms of his pulling her closer before settling round her waist. Instantly, she settled back against him, her smile blossoming across her face and lifting the ache in her heart. She was more than aware of the fact that as he held her, Steve brushed his nose against the coloum of her throat, and she heard him inhale deeply.
She laughed softly. "Maybe, once all of this is over, you and I can take a little trip to our favourite waterfall?" She suggested, in a voice as quiet as a whisper, even though the rest of their team were in the other compartment and had the sense to leave them alone. "You know, for old times sake?"
He hummed against her neck. "That definitely gives me something to look forward to."
They both had to think positivity, that there would be an after for them, once all this had been dealt with. Without that hope, Natasha feared that she would fall into a dark space in her mind where she couldn't be pulled out from.
Earlier, when she had woken up, Steve had been still asleep, showing just how busy his mind had been recently. Instead of drifting back to the sleep that called to her, Natasha took in every small detail on her husband's face. The line of his nose, his cheekbones, the eyelashes that she envied him for greatly, the curve of his lips that felt incredible against her own mouth, against her own skin. Lips that had traced every inch of her body, had cherished and worshiped her, soft but also demanding, loving but also needy.
She knew if it wasn't for his serum, that there would be a tiny scar above his eyebrow, from when Ultron's legionnaires had crashed him into a glass stable at the Stark Tower. She remembered how he had allowed her to clean up his blood, even though his serum would never allow his skin to scar to bruise for very long. How there would probably be quite a collection of scars over his body, if it wasn't for that serum. But, Steve Rogers did not need physical signs of his bravery, of his selflessness. It radiated through him, so bright it was a wonder that he still doubted himself.
Her eyes took in his longer strands of hair, remembering how it felt to rake her fingers through and tug them in desperate desire. How his beard felt brushing against her inner thighs, or how it made the skin around her mouth tingle whenever he kissed her. It was a crime, for a man to be this beautiful, this perfect, and be so good on the inside. She just wished, especially in moments like this, that he could see himself the way she saw him.
His light chased away her demons whenever she couldn't face them, and he gave her the courage to fight them when she was ready. Without him, without his friendship and his love over these last few years, she really didn't know what sort of person she would have ended up being. The fact that he was hers, her husband and lover and best friend, was something that she had tried every single day to be worthy of deserving.
Now, as she stood in his arms and looked across at the kingdom appearing below them, Natasha's jaw set with determination. They would face this threat together, and every twist and turn that their future brought to them. As long as she had Steve by her side, she would be ready.
Once they landed and the ramp lowered, Natasha was greeted by the warm breeze. She'd forgotton just how hot the climate was here, but she could never forget the way the whole kingdom seemed to thrive of an invisible power, that radiated from the ground upwards. Wakanda really was a special place, and would remain as part of her for as long as she lived. After all, she'd married the love of her life here.
As if knowing exactly where her mind went, Steve quickly took her hand in his, giving it a squeeze that showed that he had been sharing the same thoughts as she had. Then, when the ramp hit the floor, his fingers reluctantly left the grip of hers.
T'Challa was waiting for them as the jet landed. Looking regal in his tailored robe of purple and black, the King of Wakanda's eyes followed them as Steve and Natasha walked confidently down the ramp, both of them shielding their conflicting feelings. Behind him stood his fierce Dora Milaje, with Okoye at the front, spear in hand.
With the rest of their team close behind them, Natasha and Steve came to a halt in front of the King.
"It seems I'm always thanking you for something." Steve said in greeting, shaking hands with T'Challa. It was funny to reflect on how shaky their friendship had started, with the Black Panther wanting Steve's best friend dead for crimes that were committed because of Hydra's brainwashing.
T'Challa's lips curled up in a smile as he dipped his head, first to Steve, and then to Natasha. "It is good to see you both, regardless of the reason behind it." T'Challa had instantly agreed to offer whatever help Wakanda could give Vision once Steve had made contact with him. The young King had been nothing but willing, regardless of the threats that followed the team like shadows.
Out of the corner of her eye, Natasha saw Bruce give a small bow, barely much of a movement at all, but it did not go unnoticed by T'Challa. "Please, we do not do that here." The King excused, and Bruce looked as if he was about to blush in embarrassment. A chuckling Rhodey indicated exactly who had given the doctor the idea of being so formal, and Rhodey knew the customs of Wakanda well enough.
"So," T'Challa said, raising his chin slightly. He turned and headed for the palace, with Steve and Natasha close behind him. "How big of an assault should we expect?"
Bruce, despite his embarrassment, rushed forward to chime in, "Uh, sir, I think you should expect quite a big assault."
"How are we looking?" Natasha asked. T'Challa had been given all the information that they had, and hadn't refused to help them, despite Thanos and his growing army. Despite the fact that really, none of them knew what they were facing, what was lurking for them outside this world. The King of Wakanda had offered his aid in all the ways that he could, without a second thought or a moments hesistation.
"You will have my Kingsguard," He replied. "The Border Tribe, the Dora Milaje, and -"
A familiar, deep voice finished the sentence, perhaps with words that the King himself wouldn't have chosen, "And a semi-stable hundred year old man," Bucky's smile lit his eyes as he approached them, and he looked remarkably well. When they had said their goodbyes, he had been healing from the work that Shuri had done to reserve what Hydra had inflicted on him. But now, he looked perfectly healthy. His hair was still long, now brushing his shoulders, and he sported a beard that was put to shame by Steve's, however the smile he gave them was all warmth and friendship.
It was as if seeing his old friend so well had lifted the weight off Steve's shoulders and thrown it to the side. Natasha watched her husband embrace Bucky, patting his back. "How you been, Buck?"
"Uh, not bad, for the end of the world." Bucky said good-naturedly, and Natasha could easily picture them as young boys, dressed in their army uniform, ready to go to war because they had one another to fall back on. Gleaming, Bucky's eyes found Natasha, and the warmth in them did not falter. "So, he hasn't managed to mess it up so far?" He teased.
Natasha rolled her eyes at him. "So far, so good." She remarked, and stepped forward so she too could give him a hug in greeting. "You look well." He really did. Even when they had said their goodbyes months ago, it was clear that Bucky had yet to recover from what had happened. Although Shuri had wiped all of Hydra's evil poison from him, Bucky was a good man, and therefore he would always carry the guilt of what he had done. But, right now, he seemed at peace, ready to make amends. Natasha understood that feeling better than most.
Bucky grinned as they pulled away, lifting a metallic arm that glistened brightly against the sun. "Perks of the job," He commented.
With Bucky at Steve's other side, the Avengers followed T'Challa into the palace. There was no time to waste, and Shuri was waiting for them in one of the upper floors. The princess regarded everyone as they entered the room, dipping her head to Steve and Natasha. Ramonda was nowehre to be seen, and Natasha felt relieved that the Queen Mother was not to be brought into this.
Vision was asked to lie on the table, whilst Shuri scanned him with a bracelet of Kimono Beads, not saying a single word as she worked. Her brow creasing was the only thing that changed on her face, as she processed information that none of them could possible understand, apart from probably Bruce. Even the doctor seemed to be holding his breath.
No one spoke while the young princess concentrated.
Then, she turned her hand up, a small image of the stone appearing above her palm, which she examined closely. "The structure is polymorphic." She commented, as if fascinated.
On the other side of Vision, Banner nodded. "Right, we had to attach each neuron non-squentially."
Shuri gave him a funny look, one eyebrow raised. "Why did you not just reprogram the synapses to work collectively?"
Natasha, stood with her arms folded over her chest as she shifted from one foot to the other, shared a glance with Steve, who looked equally clueless. He shrugged his shoulders slightly, to confirm that what the two geniuses were saying was just a collection of words to him too.
Banner himself, used to being the smartest person in the room, looked flustered. "Because...we didn't think of it."
"I'm sure you did your best." Shuri gave him a smile.
Wanda, hovering closeby, was starting to tense again. "Can you do it?"
As if understanding the tightness behind the girl's words, Shuri explained calmly, "Yes, but there are more than two trillian neurons here. One misalignment could cause a cascade of circuit failures." She looked to T'Challa, outlined against the sun outside the palace. "It will take time, brother."
T'Challa dipped his head, granting her request. Steve asked, "How long?"
"As long as you can give me." Shuri told them.
The sound of an alarm hit the room, and Okoye brought up an image from her own bracelet of Kimoyo Beads. It was of the Earth, and Okoye's fingers moved faster than a blink. "Something just entered the atmosphere." She reported, and the entire room stiffened with tension and aprehension.
Seconds later, it sounded as if a bomb had gone off. Natasha spun around, her quick reflexes meaning she just caught the invisible barrier protecting Wakanda exploding into flames in one area above the city.
"We've got more incoming outside the dome." Rhodey, on watch outside the palace with Sam and Bucky, reported through the comms.
Sure enough, more balls of fire plummeted from the sky, heading straight for Wakanda. They burst as soon as they hit the barrier, but more kept coming, fast and relentless. The barrier withstood all the attacks, but the flame-balls never gave up, hitting and exploding constantly.
Bigger bales of flames headed for the jungle outside the city, but they did not erupt like the first attack. Instead, once the flames hit the ground, they revealed massive black domes, towering higher than even the palace of Wakanda. The sight of them sucked all the warmth out of the palace room, and the hair along Natasha's neck stood on end.
Inside the palace, everyone had turned their attention to what was happening outside. Although the barrier did it's job and kept the city from feeling the impact of the falling shards, everyone had held their breath in suspense. The fight had found them, and was coming faster than they had anticipated, faster than they could have prepared for.
"It's too late." Vision told them, wincing as he got himself into a sitting position on the table, still drained from his injury. "We need to destroy the stone now." Grunting, he got to his feet, but his balance was gone, and he wobbled.
Natasha spun, fixing him with a glare that was known to make even the toughest of agents shake in their boots. "Vision, get your ass back on that table." She ordered. Reluctantly, knowing better than to argue with her, Vision shuffled back up onto the table, his head dropping with defeat and guilt. Natasha refused to stop glaring at him until his legs were slung over the table, and she knew he would make no more attempts of getting down. She would not think twice about pinning him down herself.
"We will hold them off." T'Challa practically growled, heading for the door. An attack on his city was not something the King took well. Anger surged around him, like an invisible storm cloud, crackling with power. Okoye's eyes were burning with fury as she watched the domes appear, the threat facing her kingdom enraging the general beyond words.
"Wanda," Steve said, making the girl pause as she tried to get Vision back down on the table. "As soon as that stone's out of his head, you blow it to hell." It was an order. No get-outs. No other options. Just fast work and quick decisions. Who know what that barrier could hold off, if it was continuously attacked like this.
Wanda nodded curtly, the determination on her face as strong as steel. "I will."
"Evacuate the city." T'Challa gave his orders, with the authority of King, the title he had rightfully earned. Okoye snapped to attention instantly, her spear hitting the floor. "Engage all defenses." He glanced over his shoulder at Steve, and added, "And get this man a shield."
Once Vision was back on the table with Wanda and Shuri keeping him there, Natasha followed the others out of the room. Steve waited for her outside, falling to step beside her as they headed for the weapons room. A warrior of the Dora Miljae accompanied them to the doorway, leaving them to find the weapons to their own liking inside.
Bruce was taken in a separate direction, to be fitted to his own defiance T'Challa had explained briefly. The doctor gave Steve and Natasha a little wave before disappearing down the corridor, into a different room. Natasha stepped inside the weapons room first, and her heart gave a little jump in her chest at the sight waiting for her. Rows upon rows of spears, of daggers, of batons and every other form of weaponry lined the walls. Every blade glistened, sharp and deadly. Every piece of leather was polished so that it shone. It was endless. It was beautiful.
Despite the situation facing them, Natasha allowed herself to admire the vast collection of weapons in front of her. This was practically a candy shop for her, especially when she knew just how technologically modified this blades and batons would be, curtesy of Shuri's brilliant mind. Although Natasha was a weapon herself, she did pick out several things, quickly strapping them to her suit. Her blood roared through her body, her fighter's heart pounding in her chest, so much so that she had to keep reminding herself to maintain steady breathing.
"Are you ready for this?" She asked, glancing up at her husband. Steve was currently testing out two smaller shields, that appeared from around his wrists and enclosed his hands. They were sharped at the end into a dangerous point. His set jaw and stiffness to his shoulders proved that he was ready. Steve was a warrior, just like Natasha, like Okeye and T'Challa. He'd give his all to protect them.
His blue eyes found her gaze, steady and confident. He crossed the room, and in a heartbeat, his arm was around her waist and he was kissing her. Kissing her as if he couldn't get enough of her, and she returned the kiss with everything that she had. Her hands cupped his face, wanting to keep him there for as long as possible. Only when both of them needed to breathe, did Steve pull back. He kept his forehead against hers, and she could see every individual shade of blue in those beautiful eyes of his. "You'll watch my back?" He checked, even though they both knew the answer without having Natasha confirm it out loud.
She smiled, and for the first time all day, she breathed without that tight feeling in her chest, and promised, "Always,"
~0~0~0~0~0~
Fight scene will be next I promise! I was going to put it all into one big chapter, but then I kinda wanted to space things out a little and add in these little extra scenes, just to show exactly how Natasha and Steve are feeling about this about all this.
- E x