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~
When Natasha woke up, rolled over, and found the space in the bed beside her empty and growing cold, she frowned.
The silver negligee from the night before was lying across the dresser, and she felt colour heat her cheeks ever so slightly, but never from embarrassment. As she remembered the way Steve's eyes had burned into her, how his hands and lips had explored her as if they couldn't get enough, and how he had growled over and over again, her entire body grew warm.
Yet, her husband was not lying beside her like he was most mornings, so her idea of starting the morning just as they'd finished yesterday was ruined.
Then, her nose picked up on the smell of bacon as it drifted faintly into the room, and her grumbling stomach made her forget about her sexy, devilish plans to ensure her husband started the day stress-free.
Praying that Banner hadn't let himself loose in the kitchen - his Hulk form certainly would destroy at least one thing - Natasha quickly darted into the bathroom, washed quicker than she ever had in her life, and shrugged on some clothes.
But, when she practically stumbled into the kitchen, her husband's breath-taking smile greeted her as he looked over his shoulder. He stood before several frying pans, all sizzling and wafting wonderful smells. Scott and Banner were perched by the counter, plates already in front of them.
"A hearty breakfast is definitely what we need before we start." Banner was saying, but he regarded her as she stepped into the room. "Morning, Nat." Scott sent her a friendly smile as he took a sip from his steaming coffee cup.
Natasha returned the smile to both of them as she crossed the kitchen and placed a hand on Steve's back as she reached up to kiss him softly. "Good morning,"
The little amused glint in his blue eyes showed her that he could see the tiny pout that remained on her lips at the fact she had woken up alone. "Morning, sweetheart." The softness in his tone erased her disappointment, and the sight of the breakfast in front of her was enough to her release she was hungry.
"Looks good," She commented, and remained on her tiptoes in order to whisper in his ear, "I've worked up quite the appetite."
Thankfully, neither Scott nor Banner seemed to hear her, and if they did, they were both smart enough not to comment on it. Steve grinned down at her. "Minx," He commented, and she stuck her tongue out at him before moving to make them some coffee.
"Alright, after breakfast, it's time to do the first test run." Banner said to all of them, looking quite funny using cutlery with his Hulk-sized hands. "I finished the final bits this morning, did the appropriate tweaking, and I'm feeling quietly confident."
"Good," Scott, who would be the one to go through with the test run, as he was the only one with experience with such a thing, muttered around a mouthful of beans. "I might be able to keep this breakfast down, then."
Natasha tried to ignore how her heart quickened at the mention of the trail run, and she concentrated on making the coffee for herself and Steve. Even as she sat at the counter and her husband placed her food in front of her with a gentle kiss to her hair, she felt suddenly nauseous.
Of course, Banner had gone over the risks and thought of countless ways to amend things that had the potential of going wrong. He had one of the sharpest, most brilliant brains in the world, so he was their best shot at doing this. Well, technically, he was their only shot now, if Tony was adamant that he wasn't going to have any part of this. There was no way that either Natasha or Steve could accomplish something like that. Their strengths lay in the physical aspects in life, and that certainly did not involve time travel. Scott, despite his experience, had already claimed several times that he had no idea how it really worked, that he didn't understand the intricate details, because the woman named Hope and her father, Hank, had been the brains behind the operation. Both of them had vanished with the Snap.
But, despite the fact Banner was sure that he had it right, Natasha couldn't help but look at Scott. To his credit, he didn't look nervous. A little on edge, yes, but he didn't look like he was about to be sick.
When they finished breakfast and Banner and Scott headed off to get ready, Natasha placed her hands on the counter and leaned onto her arms for support as she tried to steady herself.
"Hey," Steve said, just as his hand touched her lower back, remaining there. "Fancy a walk?"
Fresh air would definitely do her some good. Nodding, she entwined her fingers through Steve's and they both headed outside. It was a particularly nice day, however the wind was slightly fresh, and Natasha wished she'd worn a thicker top.
Although she tried her hardest to hide how chilly she was, Steve noticed and shrugged off his jacket, handing it to her without a moment of hesitation.
"I could just go and get one of my own." She pointed out, but she accepted the jacket from him.
"We both know I don't feel the cold as easily." He reminded her, kissing her temple as she slid the jacket on. Instantly, the scent of him was surrounding her, and she pulled the material closer to her, hugging it to her body in appreciation. "Besides, you're more than aware that I love seeing you in my clothes."
She clicked her tongue. "Rogue," Only he was able to ease such a heaviness from her heart, to make her smile even when such a thought seemed so impossible. That weight that was pressing down on her chest was lifted, shared with her by him, by his unwavering support and never-faltering love.
Together, they walked across the grass, the same patch where nights ago, they had danced and laughed and felt carefree. Now, they were minutes away from the first trail run of a time machine that no one was one hundred per cent confident in, no matter how many checks and changes Banner had made.
Natasha squeezed Steve's hand a little tighter. "Are you scared?" The words came out so quietly, as if she was keeping her own fear secret from the world, as she had done most of her life. When Steve stopped and looked down at her though, with those warm eyes, she was reminded once again that such emotions were not a weakness.
Gently, he eased a strand of her long hair away from her face, his hand remaining to cup her cheek. Instinctively, Natasha stepped closer to him, to his warmth. "Of course, I'm scared." He admitted. "I'm scared for Scott. If this doesn't work, if it back-fires…" Steve would offer to go in his place, Natasha knew that with complete certainty. The only reason he hadn't vocally offered was because he knew that he'd be shot down instantly; Scott had the most experience, and therefore it had to be Scott. Natasha knew that Steve wouldn't have done it because of a hero-complex, but because he was a born leader, and one that was worth following because he would never make someone put themselves in a position that he wouldn't willingly put himself in.
She couldn't help but be thankful that it wasn't Steve who had to face this trial. It may be selfish of her, but she didn't care. If it was her husband that was about to go through something that none of them were sure would work, she would have definitely thrown up her breakfast. Even now, even though she knew it wasn't an option, her stomach twisted at the thought...
"But," Steve went on, as if knowing exactly where her mind had hurtled off to. "Scott knows what he's doing, as does Banner. Scott is a brave man for doing this."
She forced herself to relax, to shrug the stiffness from her shoulders. "You should tell him that. It would make his day." It certainly would; it was endearing how much Scott looked up to Steve, not only as Captain America but also for who Steve Rogers was.
Steve smiled softly, his thumb brushing over her cheek. "Banner would not have agreed to doing the test run today if he thought it wouldn't work."
She closed her eyes, trying to let those words sink in, let her brain process them and realise there was truth to them. Banner couldn't deem the test run completely safe; that would be a fools mistake. But, the doctor had seemed quite confident that the amendments he and Scott had worked on together last night would pay off.
"Nat," Steve drew her closer, so he could wrap his arm around her and hold her close. "Breathe, sweetheart."
She hadn't realised just how laboured her breathing had become, and she focused on inhaling and exhaling at a steady rhythm. Each inhale drew in Steve's cinnamon, oaky scent, while every exhale allowed her heart rate to come back to normal.
There was so much on the line here. So much hope, if this worked. How were the others not falling apart at the thought of it?
But, she realised, they were all feeling that weight on their shoulders. Steve's eyes showed that, the concern that reflected in those blue depths at the thought of Scott putting himself through this. The way that Banner had been quiet at breakfast, as if his mind was racing at a thousand miles an hour in search of anything he had missed. Even Scott hadn't been his usual bubbly self, as he'd tucked into his scrambled eggs and beans.
Her hands pressed against Steve's shoulder blades slightly as she held him against her, taking much needed comfort from his physical closeness. When they pulled away, she hoped the smile on her face was convincing enough.
If he didn't believe her, he didn't let it show. He just kissed her once on the lips, and then on the forehead, before wrapping his fingers through hers once again as they headed back to the facility. Even when she stepped back inside, she didn't take his jacket off.
Together, they headed for where Scott and Banner, and the trail run, were waiting for them.
It was now, or never. And never was not an option for any of them.
~0~0~0~0~0~
Giving his wife's hand one last comforting squeeze, Steve let go as he headed towards Scott.
The man was dressed in a suit of red and silver, with a tiny pack strapped to the back of it, and appeared to be mumbling something to himself. As Steve approached, his advanced hearing let him pick up on what Lang was repeating over and over again, "I'm the boss, I'm the boss."
Steve patted his shoulder. "Scott, if you don't want to do this, you don't-"
"No," Scott straightened, focusing on Steve. "I do. I have to do this. I will do this, Cap." He had lost people he loved too, and they were what was driving him to do this, no matter how scary it was.
Leaving him to gather himself, Steve moved to rejoin Natasha, who was standing across the large space with Banner. In front of them, a large desk filled with all sorts of technology that Steve had no hope of understanding. Banner did, though, so that was all that really mattered.
"Okay, here we go," Banner declared, his already loud voice echoing throughout the space around them, which was particularly empty apart from them, the desk and Scott's beaten up van. "Time travel test number one. Scott, fire up the - er - van thing.."
Still talking to himself, Scott headed for the van. Steve had to remind himself to keep breathing. Needing something to do, Steve headed for the large shelving unit containing the breakers, checking them and rechecking them.
"Breakers are set," He told them, just as Scott pulled open the back of the van. Trying his hardest to ignore the twisting in his stomach as he took in that van, what was inside that van, Steve schooled his expression to one of cool calmness. "Emergency generations are on standby."
Banner nodded. "Good, because if we blow the grid, I don't want to lose Tiny here in the 1950s."
Pausing from assessing the helmet in his hands, Scott asked, "Excuse me?" The colour had drained from his face, and Steve couldn't blame him.
"He's kidding," Natasha told him instantly, shooting Banner a look, one that was a mixture of amusement and utter disbelief. "You can't say things like that."
As he passed her, Steve brushed his hand across her lower back, relieved to hear the quiet laughter in her voice. She'd looked so lost outside, and she probably felt just as powerless as he did.
"It was a bad joke." Banner said apologetically.
Scott didn't look all that convinced, and when he paced back towards the van, Natasha demanded under her breath, "You were kidding, right?"
"I have no idea." Banner admitted, thankfully managing to keep his voice down. Natasha glared up at him; this was certainly not the time to be voicing doubts now. "We're talking about time travel here. Either it's all a joke or none of it is." Then, with a much louder voice, he shot Scott a thumbs up. "We're good! Get your helmet on."
Steve swallowed as he glanced from the machine to Scott, once again wishing that the man didn't have to go through this alone.
With Scott placing the helmet on, Banner pumped in a few buttons in front of him. "Scott, I'm gonna send you back a week, let you walk around for an hour, then bring you back in ten seconds. Make sense?"
Scott's reply didn't sound all that confident, "Perfectly not confusing."
"Good luck, Scott." Natasha wished him gently. Only someone who knew her as well as Steve did would sense the unease that was eating away at her, but she was trying her hardest to not let it show, for Scott's sake. Scott dipped his head to her in thanks as he settled the helmet in place on final time.
"You got this," Steve told him firmly.
Rolling his shoulders, Scott raised his chin. "You're right. I do, Captain America."
Then, in the blink of an eye and one press of a button, Scott was gone. The next ten seconds were the longest ten seconds of Steve's life, and he felt restless, useless, just waiting for them to pass.
Even when Banner started counting down from three, Steve tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach.
The machine started to whirl, and a figure burst from it. But, this person was considerably shorter, and their young face was looking around with shocked wide eyes. The suit was now far too big, and the helmet revealed a face that carried similar features to the man who had just stood in front of them. "Uh...guys?" The kid asked in a shaky voice. "This doesn't feel right."
"What is it?" Steve demanded Banner.
Natasha was frozen. "Who is that? Is that Scott?"
"Yes, it's Scott." The boy, who barely looked old enough to be considered a teenager, clarified.
Banner pressed a few more buttons, and the boy was gone. A few seconds passed, and then a new figure was in front of them, hunched over slightly with age. The helmet revealed a wrinkled face, but the eyes were the similarity attaching him to Scott and the boy.
Steve's stomach dropped completely. "What's going on, Bruce?" Something had gone terribly wrong…
"Can I get a little space here?" Banner asked, flustered, as he leaned over the keyboards and started punching in more commands.
At the other side of Bruce, Natasha was looking just as frantic as Steve was feeling. Steve joined her, a hand instantly on her lower back in an attempt to steady both of them.
"Can you bring him back?" His wife asked, glancing from Banner to the elderly man facing them.
"I'm working on it." Banner snapped, as the Hulk's massive fingers worked furiously over the buttons.
In a blink of an eye, the old man was gone, replaced by…
Natasha froze at his side, and Steve's eyes widened. "It's a baby." His words came out drier than he had intended, but he didn't care. What the hell had happened? Where was Scott?
"It's Scott." Banner pointed out, rather unhelpfully. If Natasha wasn't currently standing in shock, she probably would have punched him for that.
"As a baby," Steve clarified, as the little person across the room stared at them.
"He'll grow!"
Steve's voice raised a level as he demanded, "Bring Scott back!"
"When I say 'kill the power', kill the power." Banner instructed, and Natasha instantly headed for the lever on the beam nearby. "And, kill it!"
Natasha wrenched it across, and the baby disappeared in a flash. Steve breathed out a heavy sigh of relief when Scott was finally standing in front of them, in the same state that he had been at the start.
"Oh, thank god." Natasha fell back against the wall, as if her legs would buckle at any moment.
Scott himself seemed completely lost for words, until he mumbled, "Somebody peed my pants. But, I'm not sure f it was baby-me, or old-me. Or...just me-me."
Silence filled the room for a few seconds, as Scott got himself together and when Steve turned to look at Banner, the Hulk-doctor certainly looked sheepish as he declared, "Time-travel!" When they all stared at him with open mouths, he added, "What? I see this as an absolute win."
Natasha's gaze met his, but Steve shook his head, silently telling her, Make sure Scott is okay. I'll be back. His wife didn't protest, even though the tightness in her jaw showed just how badly she wanted to go with him. Instead, she softened her expression and headed for Scott, who was patting his body as if he couldn't believe what had just happened. None of them could.
Feeling like the world had just opened up and swallowed him, Steve headed outside.
~0~0~0~0~0~
As Tony stopped the car directly besides him, Steve kept his expression neutral. But, his attempt proved useless, as Tony looked up at him and said, "Let me guess, he turned into a baby."
Steve sighed, showing his defeat. A hundred thoughts had been whizzing through his mind ever since that trail had finished, and although he was relieved that Scott was in one piece, he couldn't believe it had gone quite so wrong. "Among other things, yeah." Although the facility was an awful long way to drive just to boast, Tony's sudden arrival was still a mystery. Steve's jaw tightened slightly. "What are you doing here?"
"It's the EPR Paradox," Tony explained, although Steve knew that the man was more than aware that those words meant nothing to him. "Instead of pushing Lang through time, you might've wound up pushing time through Lang. It's tricky. Dangerous. Somebody could have cautioned you against it."
Despite himself, despite the broken friendship between them, Steve couldn't help but smirk at that all too familiar sarcastic tone. "You did."
"Oh, did I? Well, thank God I'm here." Tony scoffed. For a moment, it was as if all those years hadn't happened, and they were Captain America and Iron Man trying to work together despite being two different sides of the same coin. "Regardless, I fixed it."
When Tony raised his hand and displayed a device over his knuckles, Steve didn't attempt to hide any glimmer of hope off his face. Their trail run had failed, massively. He wasn't about to throw away the bone that Tony Stark, by some miracle, had agreed to give them. However, he had no words for what Tony was showing him simply because there was no way he could understand what that device was, how it was made, and what good it would do to them.
Tony sensed this, and thankfully, when he explained, there was not even a hint of arrogance, "A fully functioning time-space GPS. Look," He took a big sigh, lowering his hand and shutting the car door behind him. "Turns out, resentment is corrosive, and I hate it. I just want peace."
A little stunned that it was Tony who held out the hand of forgiveness first, Steve almost couldn't string a sentence together. "Me too," If these last few years had shown him anything, it was that they were strongest together, working as a team.
Tony dipped his head. "We've got a shot of getting these stones, but I've got to tell you my priorities. Bring back what we lost, I hope, yes. Keep what I found, I have to, at all costs." His family. His wife and daughter. "And, maybe not die trying would be nice."
The two of them stood facing one another, but unlike their last few confrontations, there were no hardened gazes, no rage or temper, no words spat out in distrust and anger. The first step in repairing what they had lost. It would never erase the fact that Steve hadn't told Tony about his parents, nor would it take away the words that Tony had used to hurt Natasha in such a deep way. But, it was the start of moving forward.
"Your priorities are my priorities." Steve told him.
Tony nodded in understanding. "Look, I know I've been ass, to both you and Natasha. Was I pissed that she stood against me at the airport? Yes. Did I feel bad about what I said to her afterward? Definitely. I was angry at a lot of things, and I took it out on her because I knew she wouldn't simply roll over and ignore me. For a moment, it made me feel better. After, though, I couldn't stand to look at myself, knowing how much I must have hurt her."
"Did you try to get in contact with her?" Steve asked, remembering all too well how much Tony's words had devastated his wife, how her voice had trembled when she'd repeated them to him.
"I believe she blocked my number the second she walked away from me, as well as wish several curses on my very soul." Tony said, and it certainly sounded like something Natasha would have done. "Then, you guys disappear off the map completely, and then everything happened far too quickly with Thanos...and I guess, my only way of dealing with the fact we lost was to lash out at you both again. I...I'm sorry, Steve."
Perhaps, the fact that Tony Stark was apologising should have stunned him, and perhaps it would later when he remembered this exchange, but right now, Steve felt completely at peace. "I can't speak for Natasha." He said, choosing his words carefully. "But, we all need to work together on this." Holding out his hand, he added, "I forgive you, Tony, if you can forgive me for my own mistakes."
Tony stared down at his hand, as if recalling those mistakes. But, he shook Steve's hand firmly. "Thank you."
There, the first step had been made. A shaky step, one that was long overdue, but it was a start. If they were going to work on this as a team, Steve knew that the slate had to be wiped clean. He also knew that Natasha would not forfeit this chance because of her own pride. Whether Tony's words still echoed in her brain and caused her to doubt however, Steve could only hope that was not the case. If it was, then it was up to him as her husband, to remind her how wrong they had been.
Then, when Tony dropped his hand, he headed for the boot of the car, opening it and revealing a familiar item that had Steve pause momentarily.
Wordlessly, Tony picked up the shield, the metal gleaming in the sunlight as he held it out to Steve.
That shield was all too familiar, even though it wasn't the original. The sight of it was as if Steve had just been reunited with a piece of himself, of his history and his future. But, something held him back. The responsibility of that shield, and how little good it had done him in the end. "Tony, I don't know."
"Why? He made it for you." Tony said. "Plus, honestly, I have to get it out of the garage before Morgan takes it sledging."
Morgan. His daughter's name was Morgan. That little piece of information brought warmth to Steve, but also served as a reminder of just how much time had passed since he and Tony had even considered each other friends.
As Steve placed his hand through the brace in the centre of the shield and held it, the weight became an extension of his body, as the shield had always been. The vibranium was light, and he could still remember how in awe he had been of the shield the very first time it had been presented to him, by Howard Stark. Now, it was Howard's son who stood before him, giving him this gift. Steve just prayed that this time, he wasn't going to let anyone down.
"Thank you, Tony." Steve said quietly, his eyes running over the edge of the shield as memories swarmed through his brain. He snapped himself away from them, but not without the corner of his mouth lifting in a small, fond smile.
"Will you keep that a little quiet? I didn't bring one for the whole team." Tony said light-heartedly.
Steve's smile grew as the pressure on his shoulders lifted. The ground between them may still be unsure, and he had no idea quite how his wife would react when Tony apologised to her, but Steve knew that this was a much needed step in the right direction. "You can be the one to explain that to Natasha, then." He commented, and both of them chuckled.
~0~0~0~0~0~
To say that Natasha was shocked when Steve walked back in, accompanied by Tony Stark, would be an understatement. A massive understatement. It felt as if she'd been stood on a cloth that was then suddenly wiped out from underneath her. She struggled to regain that sense of balance, sense of clarity, as she approached her husband while Tony headed for Banner.
Steve watched her as she walked towards him. "He's going to help us, Nat."
The words hit her like the heaviest of winds. Her eyes widened, and she couldn't help but look over to Tony, who met her gaze and gave her a dip of his head in confirmation. There was a glow in his eyes, a warmness that hadn't been there the last time she'd spoken to him, the last time he had looked at her.
So, she released the breath she had been holding, and turned back to her husband. "I see he brought you a present." She commented, raising a brow at the all too familiar shield that her husband carried. His original one had been destroyed, wrecked beyond repairs, and it had been years since he'd carried it. But, this new one seemed to shine as if someone had polished it within an inch of its life.
Seeing Steve with it now did something funny to her chest.
Her husband used his spare arm to wrap around her waist and pull her against him, so he could kiss her forehead. "You know I don't mind sharing this with you."
Remembering just how much he had enjoyed watching her fight with it back in Sokovia, Natasha blushed slightly. To hide that fact, she gave him a gentle, playful shove, and he quickly pressed a kiss to her lips before they both joined the others.
Quickly, arrangements were made. While Tony continued to talk through with Banner and Scott, Steve and Natasha contacted the others. The Benetar would be approaching within the hour, and Rhodey was also on his way. Clearly wanting to do something useful, Steve offered to make some lunch, to which everyone was more than happy to agree. Scott made a request for tacos, and considering what he had just gone through, no one had a complaint.
Feeling restless, Natasha joined her husband in the kitchen and helped prepare the food. They worked in a peaceful silence, and Steve snuck in a few kisses whenever he passed her. Natasha smiled, the first smile she'd felt all morning. Tony being here was a big step in the right direction, and was a moral boost they had all definitely needed after what had just happened.
As she finished her taco, Natasha wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and glanced over to where Banner and Tony sat together. Steve was talking to them both, arms folded over his chest with a look of deep concentration on his face, and she smiled softly as she watched him pretend to understand whatever they were talking about. In this room, two people were missing, but Banner had already told them he knew exactly where Thor would be. Convincing the Asgardian to join them, however, may be slightly difficult.
"What's going on in that pretty head of yours?" Steve mumbled as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. As she had been too lost in her memories of a time where six of them had stood in a heli-carrier together and not seen eye-to-eye, she hadn't heard him cross the room to join her.
Natasha leaned back against him, her head resting against his shoulder. "I'm thinking that the team will be back together soon. The original team. We're all so different from the people that Fury assembled before New York."
Steve's nose brushed against the column of her throat as he hummed thoughtfully. "Rhodey told you where Clint was?" He guessed.
She nodded, trying to ignore the hollowness that Rhodey's news had brought, Clint's location and his most recent targets. "Tokyo. Tony has agreed to give me the keys to his jet." The jet had been hidden away in the hanger here, untouched and unused, ever since the facility had been built. Natasha had debated asking Rocket to fly her to Tokyo on the Benetar, but the ship would draw too much attention, and if by some miracle Clint agreed to come back with her, she knew he wouldn't appreciate a stranger being on board, seeing whatever mess he left behind.
Her husband's hold tightened slightly. "I could come with you, if you want?" Not a demand, not a question of whether she needed him or not, just a quiet request, because Steve would never push her. Never make her feel like she couldn't do it by herself. He just wanted to show her that if she needed it, she had his support completely.
As much as she wanted him to come, as much as she felt she needed to make the most of every minute they had together before all this started happening too quickly, Natasha shook her head. "This is something I have to do alone."
For a moment, it seemed like Steve would protest. But, he softened and kissed her neck. "Then I'll wait here for you to return. Both of you."
He had every faith that she would be able to get through to Clint, and although that warmed Natasha greatly, it did little to push away the self-doubt that darkened within her. She didn't know if she could cope with him pushing her away for good.
She covered Steve's hands with hers and closed her eyes. "Thank you."
Sure enough, once an hour had passed, the great deal of noise and wind from outside the facility told them that the Benetar had in fact landed. Moments later, and Rocket strode in, nose in the air as he hunted down the last remaining tacos. Nebula dipped her head in greeting as she entered, joining her ship-mate and giving the tacos a wary look.
Steve accompanied Natasha to the jet, after she'd spoken with Tony and promised several times to bring the jet back exactly how she had found it. Exchanging teasing comments with Tony wouldn't fix what they had said to one another in the past, but it was a good start at healing their broken friendship.
"I'm sorry, Little Red, for everything." Tony had told her, just before she had left for the jet, and his voice had been so soft, so open, that she knew he was speaking from his heart. "The words I said to you held no truth. I've always known how much Steve loves you, and how much you love him. I spoke in anger, and I'm ashamed of myself for it. For hurting you."
She had taken one look at his face and felt sure that he meant every word of it. Time had healed over that wound, like new skin over a scab. Yes, the words had hurt, but Steve had shown her every single day that they were not true, and Natasha had opened herself up enough to allow the words to sink in, and then to be swallowed down to a place where she rarely thought of them. So, as she stood facing Tony, she let go of her pride, let go of the hollowness those words had originally brought, and felt nothing but a strong bond between herself and the man stood before her.
"I forgive you, Tony." She'd told him, and she hadn't missed the relief that glimmered in those dark brown eyes of his.
Natasha squealed in surprise as Steve cupped her face and claimed her lips in a long, passionate kiss that stripped the oxygen from her lungs and hurtled her from her thoughts. She made no protest at the interuption, though, as her hands raked through his hair and willed his mouth to remain exaclty where it was for as long as they could get away with.
When they broke apart, Steve's forehead rested against hers, and he nuzzled his nose into hers. "I love you."
In those three words, in the warmth of his closeness, in the look in his eyes as he looked down at her, Natasha found the courage inside herself to go after her best friend. "I love you, too." She whispered.
It didn't matter that it had been five years since she had last piloted a jet. It all flooded back to her as she directed the aircraft out of the hanger and up into the open sky, as easy as breathing. She just prayed that on the journey home, she wouldn't be by herself.
~0~0~0~0~0~
Thankful that it was raining enough to blur the scene around her slightly, Natasha stood completely still. The horrors around her were not something she wasn't familiar with. They were living memories of a past she had long tried to move on from. What pained her the most, was that she understood that hollowness that lurked inside Clint Barton, that sense of hopelessness and rage. It had consumed her for years, before hope had been given to her, a second chance provided by the very man stood with his back to her right now. Clint Barton had seen past the monster she had become, and that was exactly what she would do for him right now.
"I told you not to come looking for me." Even his voice was different, empty. It struck her heart to hear him like this, for him to be surrounded by such death and despair that he had caused, because he had lost himself to the darkness. "You shouldn't be here."
He didn't turn to look at her, and she wasn't sure if she should be thankful for that or not. The evidence of what he had become surrounded her, in the street filled with lifeless bodies who had met a swift yet brutal end. "Neither should you."
The rain pelted down on her umbrella, but as Clint turned to finally face her, it took everything she had to not crumble at the sight of his face. His broken soul was evident in the blankness of his eyes; eyes that would have shed so many tears these past few years that the ability to cry any longer might well be lost to him for good. Tears for a family who had been taken away from him.
When their gazes met, Natasha lifted her chin, refusing to flinch as those lifeless eyes faced her. In the back of her mind, a voice was speaking to her, constantly reminding her who exactly was standing before her, and who she had come to save from himself. Clint Barton, her first true friend in this large, cruel world.
"I've got a job to do." He said, the words coming out blunt and cold, as if he was addressing a stranger, a stranger he had no intention on speaking to for much longer. Would he try to bolt? To disappear back into the shadows that he had allowed to consume him? Natasha would go after him without hesitation; she would find him, again and again, until he listened.
"Is that what you're calling this?" She asked, her own voice coming out dry, neutral. Not matter how she was feeling, no matter how desperately she wanted him to come back to the facility with her, to face all this mess with him at her side, she would never let it show. "Killing all these people isn't going to bring your family back." Even saying it hurt, as if she was swallowing down glass.
Clint's body stiffened, rage taking over every feature of his face, until even that became almost unrecognisable. She had seen Clint angry many times before, but never like this. Never so cut off from the man he had been, the man she admired for his bravery and honesty.
"We found something. A chance, maybe." She took that step towards him, only one. Clint didn't move away from her.
But, his face changed again at her news, to one of heartbreak and misery. "Don't,"
"Don't what?" She pressed, even though she knew exactly what he meant. She needed him to say it, to speak how he was feeling, to know that such emotions were still inside him.
His jaw locked. "Don't give me hope." There, a faint glow of the man that lurked beneath the shadows and the pain. A man who just wanted his family back.
Tears sprang to her eyes, and not even the rain would be able to cover them. But, she let a single tear escape, rolling down her cheek. "I'm sorry I couldn't give it to you sooner." Her heart clenched in her chest, so painful that it was hard to breathe, to ignore her own agony as it resurfaced.
Clint swallowed, those sharp eyes of his glaring down at the floor, his gaze hard enough to burn through the cement almost. Natasha waited, knowing that her friend needed a moment to consider. She wouldn't tell him about Tony coming to their aid, about Scott Lang. Not yet. Not until they were on that jet, and heading back to the facility. Together.
The man stood before her may have done terrible things over the past few years, but Natasha understood better than anyone else how easy it was to give in to that darkness, to let it eat away at you until there was nothing left but helplessness and pain. Clint would have fought it, at first, until there was no other option left to him.
This was the man who had been sent to kill her, all those years ago. The man who had looked at her, with enough skill and training to take her on, and yet had instead offered her a chance. A chance that had saved her life in so many ways. A chance to make things right, to make amends and heal her broken soul. Without Clint, she would have continued as a monster. It was because of Clint that SHIELD had given her the job that had changed her life, that had led her to becoming part of this team. That had led her to meeting her husband.
The muscle in his jaw twitched from the pressure, but Clint took a deep breath. It was slightly shaky, but it eased the tension from his shoulders ever so slightly, and his facial features softened.
Natasha reached across and took his hand in hers, gloved fingers entwined with gloved fingers. She gave him a gentle squeeze. "You managed to see past my darkness, Clint. It's my turn to return the favour. Come back with me. Help us make this right."
When he looked at her, his eyes were still dark, but not with anger. His own tears shone, reflecting from the lights of the street around them. Words failed him, but he dipped his head and returned the squeeze to her own fingers.
They left the flickering lights and the bodies behind them, and they did not look back.
~0~0~0~0~0~
Running a hand through his hair, Steve considered whether it was possible for his head to truly explode. He'd been sitting around that table with Rocket, Tony, Nebula Banner and Scott for the best part of three hours now, and could not remember a time where his back didn't hurt and his mind was whirling.
"I'd say we'd dumb it down for you, Muscles." Rocket commented. The raccoon had bristled ever since Steve had handed him a pillow to sit on, so he could actually be seen over the table. "But, we can't water it down any more than we already have."
Steve wasn't bothered by that comment, not really. Did he wish he could be more helpful when it came to talking about time travel? Of course. But, he was a soldier, a fighter. Perhaps, once all this was done, he and the raccoon could spar, and then see who the know-it-all really was. That thought alone was proof that Steve's mind had turned to mush.
Rocket's ear twitched. "Looks as if you're saved, though." He commented, as Steve's own hearing picked up the sound of an approaching jet engine. "Your Mrs is back."
Relieved at the reason to finally leave the table without admitting defeat against the information that everyone else had exchanged, Steve got up and headed for the hanger. Natasha had only been a couple of hours, and yet being away from her had felt like a weight that sank deeper into his stomach as time went on. With everything that was happening around him, Steve needed his wife to be able to keep his head above the water.
The jet had landed by the time he reached the hanger, and Clint Barton turned to face him.
"Cap," The man said with a respectful dip of his head. Shadows were underneath his eyes, and his skin looked drained, but there was a warmth to his voice. One look at Natasha told Steve that this man had certainly been through a lot, and that Clint had no intention of discussing it. Steve just hoped that Clint had been able to open up to Natasha about it on the way home.
Steve held his hand out, and Clint shook it. "There's a spare room waiting for you." He told their former team mate. "I would advise not joining the others until you've had a shower and a rest. Believe me, you'll need all your strength and piece of mind before dealing with that conversation."
Clint chuckled, a sound that seemed to have not been used in a very, very long time. "Thank you," He glanced over his shoulder to Natasha, who smiled faintly. "Both of you."
As the archer left, Steve took a step towards his wife, and then another, and another. His arms were around her, pulling her against him, before either of them could so much as blink. "I knew you could do it, sweetheart." He whispered into her ear.
Her hands clung to him. "He's been through a lot." Her concern for her friend was thick in her voice, but her body had stopped shaking the minute Steve had pulled her into his arms.
"Where are the others?" She asked, her voice so quiet that he barely heard her.
Sat around a table speaking in a foregin language, as far as I'm concerned. "Planning,"
His wife pulled away, and the expression on her face certainly surprised him. He'd been expecting her to be drained, or trying to hold herself together after whatever situation she had found Clint in. However, her emerald eyes were burning, in a way that had his whole body tingling.
Without a word, she took his hand and led him into the facility. Steve followed her without question, reminding himself that she could very well just be wanting to go back to their room so she could show her emotions without being overheard. But, Natasha didn't lead them to their room. Instead, she found a closed door to one of the many offices in the building, and shoved it open.
Steve's eyes could barely keep up with her as she reached up and pulled his lips down to hers, backing his body up against the door that slammed shut. As one of her hands fisted into his hair, the other moved behind him to secure the lock, although all their companions would have certainly heard the door shutting and known better than to interrupt.
Natasha's kiss was hot and demanding, her tongue seeking its way inside his mouth. It took everything that Steve had to be able to pull away, and he tried to ignore the flash of hurt that appeared on her face. "Natasha, don't you want to talk about-"
"I don't want to talk, Steve." She practically growled out, but she made no attempt to kiss him again. "I went and found him, and he'd already assigned everyone on that street. It was too late. He was lost, and alone, and felt the whole world was against him. I know that, because I felt like that for a long time." She stood on her tiptoes to brush her nose along his jawline. "So no, I don't want to talk. I want to feel. I want you to remind me that my own demons are gone." I need you, her eyes silently pleaded.
In that moment, he understood. She wasn't using him as a distraction, but as a reminder of everything that she had faced and overcome. Seeing Clint again would have brought back dark, painful memories for her, and Steve knew that she wanted to banish those thoughts for good. Pride swelled inside him as he gazed down at the brave woman pressing against him.
So, he leaned down and kissed her, this time without holding back a scrap of how he felt for her, how much he wanted her. Natasha's hands clung to the back of his neck, to his shoulders, and she squealed into his mouth as Steve lifted her up. Her legs clamped around his waist instantly, and he carried her to the desk in the far corner, by the large windows. Apart from the empty bookshelves, the desk was the only bit of furniture in this room; it was one of the many offices that had never been touched, because the facility had had too many rooms for the two of them to fill with attempts of making it more homely.
The lack of furniture, however, was not a concern. He would have taken her against the door, and probably would do, if they had enough time.
Part of him wanted to savour this time, to trace over her body with his hands and map it with his mouth. But, time was not on their side. The team were still planning, Clint was resting, and by tonight, they would have a plan of how to tackle tomorrow. Tonight, he would worship his wife. Right now, however, he released himself to his inner needs, and Natasha did exactly the same.
She growled against his mouth in frustration as her fingers worked to undo each of his shirt buttons, knowing full well she couldn't just rip it from his body. With Tony Stark in the building, the jokes would be endless if Steve emerged from this room half-clothed. Still, Natasha made it no secret that she hated the fact she couldn't do what she wanted, couldn't just shred the material as if it was made of tissue paper.
Steve shared her urgency as he pushed her coat off her shoulders and lifted her dark top over her head. His lips dropped to the swell of her breasts as he quickly undid the clasp of her bra, which was chucked over his shoulder a second later. As his tongue swirled around a nipple, he felt Natasha's hands as they finally dragged his shirt down his arms before she set to work on his belt.
In a matter of moments, no clothes constricted their movements, and as Steve pressed against her, Natasha's hands clawed down his back in a silent demand, Don't keep me waiting, Rogers.
She had wanted him to make her feel, to remind her of how much he loved her, how strong she was for overcoming her past. That was exactly what he planned to do.
With one powerful thrust, he was buried inside her velvet warmth, her name spilling from his lips like a prayer. It never eased, over all these years, the desire he felt for her, how she made him feel when they were joined like this. Not just in their bodies, but their souls and hearts as well. It would always be like this for them, and the thought alone had him trembling.
Her hands now stroked his spine, gliding soothingly over the claw-marks that her nails had no doubt left behind. When he started to move in and out of her, his own name was whispered from her lips, and the moan she released was the most breath-taking sound in the world.
The desk shuddered from the impact of his thrusts, but Steve couldn't care less if they were making too much noise. He couldn't give a damn in the team heard, if the world heard. This woman was his wife, and he loved her so much that it hurt.
"So good, baby." Natasha's words were whimpers of consuming pleasure as her hands continued to move up his shoulders and down his spine, silent pleads for him to keep going.
Steve had no intention of stopping, and his pace quickened even more. His hands grasped her waist, sliding her even closer to the edge of the desk so she was practically pinned up by his own hips. This new angle allowed him to sink even deeper, and the feeling was indescribably.
His whole body burned for her, and he claimed her mouth with his in a deep kiss as he continued to move with her. Her own hips rose to meet his thrusts, greedy and commanding, and he loved it.
Natasha's orgasm struck first, and it was the fluttering and grasping of her inner walls that had his own release finding him quickly after. He spilled inside her, collapsing so his forehead rested against her collarbone.
"More," She demanded in his ear, her voice hungry and dripping with need, with want.
He'd never be able to deny her anything, especially when he craved it just as much as him. "And you call me the one with the insatiable sex drive," He commented, biting her neck where it met her shoulder. Never enough to hurt, but Natasha gasped at the sensation, especially when he soothed over the area with his tongue. "Get off the desk and turn around, sweetheart." His voice rang with authority, and male pride struck him once again when she listened to his order.
Her naked body captured his attention as he stepped away from her, and he took in those peaked nipples, the rapid rising and falling of her chest, the flush to her face. But, Natasha slipped down from the desk. Giving him a smile dazzling enough to leave him breathless, she turned around and placed her hands on the desk.
He stepped forward, his entire body lining up with the back of hers. His cock pressed against her backside, already pulsing with need, but he snaked his hands around her waist to settle on her stomach while he kissed her neck.
"You're mine." He reminded her, sucking on the area just below her ear that always gained a wonderful reaction from her. Sure enough, Natasha's back arched from the action, and therefore pushed herself further against him. She could feel just how badly he wanted her, how badly he always wanted her.
"I'm yours," She agreed.
His hands crept up over the flat skin of her stomach until they found her breasts, where her nipples were practically straining for attention. His fingers tweaked them and rolled them, and Natasha hissed, her head dropping slightly. Steve lowered one hand, gliding it back down slowly until it made itself at home between her legs. She was dripping from him, coated in both of their juices, and the feeling of her warmth against his fingers drove him inside. His knee pushed between her legs, separating them even further.
"I love you." He growled into her ear, but his words had such a softness to them, a promise that later, he would take his time with her. All night.
A moan fell from her lips, her head rolling back slightly. "I love you." She breathed out, as his fingers continued to stroke her, to prepare her. He lined himself up at her entrance and waited. "Take me, Steve."
At her final order, he plunged back inside her.
He wasn't sure who out of the two of them was the loudest as they pushed each other to this next point of release. Quite frankly, though, he didn't care who heard.
~0~0~0~0~0~
Rolling over, Natasha stretched amongst the soft sheets, enjoying how the material felt against her bare skin. The feeling came second best, though, to the solid body of muscle that lay beside her, and she shifted so she pressed against his side once again. She knew Steve was already awake, and the hand he stroked up and down her back was confirmation of this.
"Good morning." She purred.
His smile was evident in his voice as he said, "Good morning, how are feeling?" It was a crime for someone to look that good so early, without even trying. She drank in the sight of him; hair slightly ruffled, a smile on his soft lips, his eyes shining with contentment.
Last night had been incredible. He'd been incredible. It still baffled her that he could ease her of all her stress, all her self-doubt, and be that light that scared away all her demons. Reuniting with Clint had brought up a lot of long buried emotions inside her, and she hadn't felt weak when she'd gone to Steve and needed his help in facing them, in overcoming them. Her husband understood without her needing to explain herself, and she would forever be grateful that she had him in her life, her lover and greatest support.
"I feel as though my husband rocked my world for hours." Natasha said, a coy smile already playing on her lips. "Although, that may well have been a dream. A fantastic dream."
Steve made a thoughtful noise, but she knew he was following exactly where she was going with this. The darkening gleam in his eyes told her as much. "Hmm, it most certainly was not a dream." He told her, already moving to hover above her, keeping his body weight off her but leaning down to nuzzle his nose against hers. "How about we start our morning properly and I'll show you how good I can make you feel?"
His suggestion, the desire that rang through his words, had her whole body tingling. Swiftly, she had her legs round his waist and had flipped them over so she was straddling him. "You took the reins last night." She reminded him, making sure to roll her hips just slightly against him. "It's my turn."
Her husband's hands clasped around her waist. "Do your worst." He challenged.
But, before she could act upon her burning want for him, someone pounded their fist against their bedroom door. Hissing with annoyance, Natasha sat up straight, glaring over her shoulder at the closed door and knowing exactly who was on the other side of it. Only one person in this whole facility would risk aggravating her so early in the morning, and now that their forgivenesses had been exchanged, he seemed to be in full swing.
"Get out of bed, lovebirds, or I'll send in the raccoon!" Tony's voice was far too loud for this time of the morning.
Instantly, Natasha's brain started to whirl, thinking of how many ways she could get the billionaire to regret teasing them so early. Steve removed a hand from her waist to rub his eyes as he sighed with equal annoyance. "Why did we need his help again?" Her husband joked.
Natasha rolled her eyes. "Because he's brilliant, and our only chance of actually achieving this time heist." She remarked, even though she made sure to keep her voice down. If Tony heard her compliment him, she'd certainly never hear the end of it.
Tony's voice shouted in once again, "Rogers and Rogers, this is your final warning."
At least he was acknowledging her married name now, Natasha reflected as she reluctantly climbed off her husband, reached down and picked up a trainer which lay at the floor alongside the bed. It was definitely an improvement, but that didn't stop her from throwing the shoe directly at the door with enough force that the whole thing shook.
"Alright, I have extended your lie in for another minute." Tony decided, probably because he knew that nothing would prevent Natasha from throwing the other shoe at his face the next time she had the chance. When no other teasing words came, it was clear the billionaire had indeed scuttled off.
Natasha fell back into the pillows with a sigh. Steve chuckled in amusement, leaning over to kiss her forehead. "You can't kill him, Nat. We need him."
She huffed. "Alright, but one punch to the arm won't affect his brain, and that's really the only part of him we actually need right now." But, she was only joking, and Steve knew that. They were both aware of how serious all this was, and how crucial Tony Stark's help was. For once, Natasha was willing to put orgasms second to something.
As they washed and dressed for the day ahead, Natasha watched Steve in the reflection of the mirror she faced. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself.
Today, they would trail Tony's adjustments, and last night, Clint had volunteered to be the test bunny this time. So many thoughts raced through her mind, so many possibilities and worries, that she found her balance faltered slightly. Seconds later, and a familiar set of muscular arms surrounded her waist.
"We'll face this, Nat." Steve whispered, his mouth brushing her ear. Instantly, his presence and voice soothed her, let her see clearly. "Together,"
Taking a deep breath, she leaned back against him. "Together,"
~0~0~0~0~0~
Getting close to the Vormir chapter now...
- E x