Chapter 10
The drive to the Avengers Compound was rather quick, with Natasha sleeping the entire drive. She crawled up on the seat, leaning her head against the window. Steve relaxed his arm over her side rested his hand on her legs, enjoying the scenery.
The next leg of their trip was driving in darkness to the brightly lit city. Natasha chose one of her favorite sleek, fast cars to drive. Steve messing with the radio, before finding a classic orchestra station and settling on it. Natasha really enjoyed his choice of music.
"You didn't want me to pick the music?" She asked.
"Nope. Not while you're driving, Speedy." He teased her. Steve reaching over the center console to rest his hand on her thigh. Natasha feeling the flutters of butterfly wings in her stomach. He makes me into such a little school girl. She thought to herself. She always enjoyed these long drives with him, they didn't even have to talk the whole time. They could relax and just enjoy the quiet time together.
The 5-hour drive was uneventful. The traffic picked up as they neared the city, and darkness was pierced by a light, shining brightly as the lively city came into view.
With Natasha having several safe houses around the world, she lived in the small loft on Amsterdam Ave. She had the view of Central Park and was within walking distance of the Hudson River. She loved living in the heart of the city.
She unlocked the door and reach through to turn on the lights on. The room was flooded with light, revealing the single room living space.
"Is this where you lived before moving into the tower?" Steve asked, only have ever been in Natasha's room twice when they lived at the compound.
"Yes. This was my home when I wasn't with S.H.I.E.L.D." She told him. Steve wandered around the open room, looking at the personal touches she added. There weren't any pics of her, he noticed, but she had over size pictures of abstract dancers in pointed-toe slippers in white splashed against colored scenery. The loft had a small kitchenette, a circular table and two chairs. Against the far wall was a large oversize bed looking out over the Central Park through the wall of windows.
Natasha and Steve, both tired from the long day of driving, both silently dressing for bed. Steve wearing some plaid cotton pj bottoms. Natasha only wearing an oversized shirt of his to bed. Both pulling off the dust cover that was over the bed frame, and then shaking the covers loose. Climbing in bed together and both falling asleep, curled around each other. Steve placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Waking before the sun touched the sky, they dressed to blend in as much as possible with the crowd. Steve wearing a hat, shadowing his face. Natasha obscuring hers with black round sunglasses and pulling her hood over the crown of her head. Both giving the other a glance over before they stepped off to the subway station.
Steve and Natasha explored the different variations of PDA. First holding hands, then with their arms linked together, but Steve most enjoyed having his arm across her shoulder with hers around his waist. Natasha hooking her fingers in through his pants loop. The streets became more alive as they entered a red brick building, opening the office door to the Attorneys at Law Nelson and Murdock.
"Good morning, how can I help you?" A sweet voice asked them. Natasha instantly recognizing the voice from calling the office before.
"We are here to see Matthew Murdock." Natasha told her.
"Can I get your name please?" She asked as she stood walking over to one of the offices.
"Natasha"
Before the tall strawberry blonde could open the door, a dark-haired man opened the door, holding on the door frame. Wearing dark red tinted glasses.
"Natasha come in. Thank you, Karen." The man welcoming Steve and Natasha into his office. Closing the door behind, the man using the furniture in the office to guide his way back behind his desk. "Matthew Murdock." As he extended his hand in the direction of Steve introducing himself.
"Steve Rogers." Shaking the man's hand. His suspicions confirmed that the man in front of him was blind. Matty gesturing for them to sit, as he did.
"Hi Matty. Glad to see me?" Natasha poking fun at his condition.
"Nope. I wished you would have told me you were coming. I did say lay low." Matthew ignoring the comment about sight she made.
"Yeah, I was getting cabin fever." She told him. "By the way, I was told you got a new name. Daredevil. I like it, much easier to say." Her voice was lowered.
Matthew gave her a sideways grin. Steve sat there watching their interaction, he remembered reading something about a vigilante cleaning up Hell's Kitchen, the Devil of Hell's Kitchen, he thought. Noting that Natasha went on missions to survey a potential candidate for the Avengers not so long ago, was it this guy? Steve thought, keeping his mouth shut, just listening.
"Yes, keeping up the hard work, just like we talked about. But not when I am having to deal with the oblazhalsya der'mo you keep bringing me." Matthew not wanting to curse in front of Captain America.
"What's the plan?" Natasha asked.
"I have a meeting tomorrow with Ross. Like I said, I wished you would be laying low. Out of sight. Anyways, if I can get him to drop the charges than everything will be great, but from what I can tell, that's a long shot." Matty explained. "After all, Ross covered up the what really happened at the Accord signing." Matty pointing out that Ross never publicly pinned anything on Zemo, everything was still on Bucky Barns the Winter Soldier, even though they had the real criminal in custody.
"Then what?" Steve chipped in.
"Then we send it to Ross's opponents in his re-election for Secretary of State. And let Capitol Hill tear him down." Natasha saying sarcastically. Both men looking at her with disapproving looks on the faces. Just a thought. She mumbled, dropping the thought, as she still would love to kill Ross for causing her friends pain.
"As much as I enjoy our visits, you need to lay low, please don't do anything to add more problems." Matthew teased Natasha.
Natasha got the hint, as she stood up and Steve following her. Matthew walked around the desk to the door, reaching out once again to shake Steve's hand. Natasha lightly touching his shoulder, as Matthew wrapped an arm around her, giving her a half hug. "Sledite za vashey spinoy", as she whisper to him. Matthew smiled, understanding that she told him to watch his back.
Taking their time getting back to her apartment, they revisited many places they had missed since their last visit - even walking through Central Park. Enjoying the little bit of freedom, before walking back to her apartment. Steve placed his arm back around Natasha shoulders. Suddenly feeling uneasy, as if something changed, Steve held her tighter.
Natasha, acting like most women in New York, kept looking in the windows as they passed them. For everyone else it looks like she is either window shopping or checking herself out. She was checking to see if they were being followed. Now knowing that Matthew and Ross' meeting was taking place tomorrow, she wanted to ensure they didn't attractive an unwanted tail. Her 'Spidey' sense was dialed to 14 on scale 1 to 10. She felt a tightened hold on her, stopping Steve, having him embrace for a spontaneous kiss. Steve enjoyed the fact Natasha was spontaneous but was not 100% comfortable kissing in taking the advantage of looking around them, scanning the field for potential threats.
That's when she saw it, the dark blue Sudan parked at the intersection next to her apartment building. With the two, men dressed in government issues suits, and black sunglasses.
"We can't go back to the apartment." Natasha placing another kiss on his cheek whispering into his eye, confirming Steve's uneasy feeling. Grabbing his hand as she hailed for a cab and immediately a yellow taxi stopped in front of them.
"Time Square." She told the taxi driver. Natasha pulled a burner phone out of her jacket and dialed the number Matthew's personal cell phone.
"Hello?" He answered on the second ring.
"Peter, see you in Неважно." Natasha told him before hanging up. They got out at Time Square, giving the driver a generous tip. Natasha kept her fingers interlaced with Steve's as they made a very long about way to the small neighborhood known as Hell's Kitchen. Finding an old-school boxing gym, that have been shut down. Steve hitting the door with his shoulder, opening the locked door. Natasha walking in first, hopping up on the boxing ring, laying on her back, while her legs dangle off the side. Steve leaned against a pillar.
"Who did you call?" Steve asked once they were completely alone.
"I called Matt, one of his favorite book is Peter Pan. This is his Neverland, so he knew to meet us here later." She explained.
"Matt and you seem friendly?" Steve asking Natasha as she popped up from the boxing ring to sit.
"You know, boy meets girl, girl was sent to spy on him." Natasha explained giving him a raised eyebrow and half smile look.
A slight noise of a slapping window pane closing made Natasha jump off the boxing and Steve moving to her. Natasha and Steve's back against the others, their defensive barriers up, protecting each other backs, prepare to attack. Steve reaching around to hold her closer to him, making sure he kept her safe.
When the shadow emerged from a dark corner, walking towards them, as friend and not foe. Both slowly letting their defensive positions relax, now seeing that it was Matthew Murdock.
"Something tells me our meeting tomorrow isn't going to happen." Matthew walked towards them without needing any guiding or help. He walking as if he wasn't blind.
"Why would you say that?" Steve relaxed but still not letting go of Natasha. She standing at his side, keeping his arm shielded in front of her.
"The sniper round that almost took me out, as I was leaving the office to meet with you." Matt explained. Natasha and Steve glade to see that he was unharmed. The three of them knowing that there's only one way that this will end. Natasha always mentally ready for a fight, her years of training taught her to remain prepared. Steve still shield-less. He was Captain America, he prepared his mind and his body for the fight that was about to come. After all he had all the motivation he needed standing beside him.
"So, boys, how about a game of cat and mouse?" Natasha raising an eyebrow looking at both, reading their expressions.
Natasha emerged from the subway her hood down and walked towards her apartment building. The men on the government issued suits, spotted her and followed her into the building. Another set of agents from the opposite directions enter the building as well. Natasha exited the elevator on her floor slowing her pace to her apartment, when a mother and daughter walked into the hallway, the little girl smiled at Natasha.
The two sets of agents filling the hallway from the stairwell, half jogging coming towards her with their hand guns drawn and ready to fire at her.
"NATASHA ROMANOFF, STOP! DO NOT MOVE!" yelled one of the agents Natasha, fearing for the girl and her mother, stopped in her tracks, raising her hands into the air. Showing she would comply.
"Get out of here" Natasha hissed to the woman, as she didn't these want any casualties. The woman ran with her daughter, as the agents quickly approached the weapon-less Black Widow.
"KNEEL ON THE GROUND SLOWLY!" The same agent yelled at her. Natasha continue to comply with the instructions given to her. The four agents surrounded her, one agent holstering his weapon as he patted down Natasha, searching for any physical weapons on her person. Once his search turned up empty grasped one of her wrist and confining it in mental handcuffs and then the other one behind her back.
"Natasha Romanoff, you are under arrest in the violation of the Sokivia Accords." The agent standing directly in front of her told her. The agents who spoke to her and handcuffed her, move on both sides of her forcing her to a standing position. While the other two agents walked beside her with hand guns drawn and at the low ready. The one agent of the side of her holding her bicep, spoke into his hand piece.
"We have the fugitive in custody. Bring the vehicles to the rear entrance." He said as they proceeded to the elevators. I really loved this apartment. She thought to herself, as they left the floor, knowing her safe house had been compromised and knowing she would not come back here.
"They wanted to send a S.W.A.T team to come in and arrest you. Why? You're just a little woman without her Avengers." The agent clearly feeling a little too cocky after his arrest.
Natasha didn't like to be undermined, and in one, swift motion she kicked her leg back contacting his groin, causing him to lean forward releasing his hold down on her. She spun across, bringing her opposite leg up, kneeing him in the face, as she broke his nose. The other agents quickly regaining control of her, pressed her against the elevator wall. The agent with the broken nose pulling his gun out a pressing it to the back of her head as blood poured from his nose.
"Ya propsto pnul svoyu zadnitsu" Natasha said to him, obliviously he did not know what she was capable of, as she could of taken all four of them out, but that wasn't part of the plan. They exited the elevator and moved towards the rear of the building. Moving out of the delivery bay, Natasha saw the two darkly tinted SUVs, with one agent standing holding the door open. Before she was placed in the back, a black bag was placed over her head and as the agent with the broken nose knocking her unconscious with the handle of his pistol. Her limp body was carelessly tossing into the back seat, as the two SUVs sped off.
Steve and Matt sat in the distance, watching Natasha enter the building and seen she had been followed. Then waiting the 2 SUVs that pulled through the alley way. Being an able to see the delivery bay from the alley way, Steve saw Natasha being knock unconscious. His anger raising in him like a wave, as he saw his love being hurt.
Matt sensed Steve rage, knowing that Natasha was apprehended. Also, he knew that Natasha meant more to Steve then just a teammate.
They followed the 2 SUVs, keeping their distance. They drove to the warehouse district, where the two SUVs pulled into an enclosed bay with the doors closing behind the vehicles. Steve watched from a distance, mentally preparing himself for the fight that will come. As they observed the activity and building their plan of attack.
The pounding pain brought her out of the dreamless sleep and into the painful blurry consciousness. Doing a quick evaluation of herself, tied by her wrist, being held above her head. Her bare feet, flat on the floor, bonded together. With only slight movement, she had very little tactical advantage. She was finally seeing clearly, she was held in a large open space, with a light shining from above her.
The sound of approaching footsteps became louder, and Natasha eagerly watched to see who would appear. It was the agent that knocked Natasha unconscious with Secretary of state Ross. The agent carrying a chair, placing it in front Natasha. Ross sat down and the agent remained behind him.
"I thought you were on our side. Than Tony finding out it wasn't the Winter Soldier, and follows Captain Rogers. Now Tony is dead, well… not likely. Your partner and friends were broken out of prison. You have been busy." Ross said not breaking eye contact with Natasha.
"Why drag Captain Rogers into all of this?" Natasha taking long pause before answering.
"Cap is a big boy. I didn't have drag him anywhere."
"I thought you wanted to make a difference for the Avengers? Make them better for the world, defending our World." He almost yelled. Natasha remaining silent, knowing Ross didn't care what she had to say. He was the same as before, like the first time she met him. When she was sent to assassinate an ambassador, Ross knew that the man had a thing for young girls. Being that as Natasha's first kill for S.H.I.E.L.D, she wasn't happy about working for Ross.
"It's a shame that you won't live to see the Avengers make the difference, the plans I have for them." Ross showing his hand and how far he is willingly to go."Captain Rogers must die as well, if it wasn't for him we would not have his mess to clean up. We should change the lineup of 'Earths Mightiest Hero's. Maybe I will recruit that blind lawyer of yours. Maybe he will follow orders better." Ross finished speaking as he stood up and walked in the direction that he entered from.
Natasha wanted nothing more to cause that man's death. A slow process she would enjoy, watching the life leaving his pathetic eyes. Natasha hung from her wrists, unable to defend herself. The agent standing behind the chair, eyeing her. Natasha knowing, he is playing a mind game with her. He walked slowly around her complete body, she stayed still listening to any change in body movement, prepared for an attack from behind. Coming around to the front of her. Natasha in full black widow mode numbing herself to the pain to come. His body position told his tells, as he winded his arm back, striking her with such force across the face.
"I am going to have fun kicking the shit out of you, little girl." He winding to strike her again across the opposite side of her face. She brings her face forward, to look at him.
"Only cowardly men would kick the shit out of a restrained woman. Uncuff me and see how long you'll last." Natasha provoked him.
"Where is Captain Rogers?" He yelled. Not answering, only to receive a punch to her side. The air getting knock out of her.
"Where are the other Avengers?" He yelled.
"Go to Hell." Natasha coughed, as he attacked the same side.
"Where is the Winter Soldier?" He yelled.
"Safe away from people who just want to use him." she told him, as he got pissed, and punched her in the face. Causing her head to bobbed back.
She spits a mouth full of blood out, "Is that the best you can do?" She snickers at him.