Chapter Twenty-Six

Natasha

This was madness. It was like being trapped in a nightmare. Where you knew what was going on was wrong but you can't stop yourself. You can't stop anything. Because you are no longer in control. That is what happened at the airport.

We got there and I just wanted to keep Steve safe. He was just being so damned stubborn. But now... how did we end up fighting each other? How did we get so lost? This was never supposed to happen. Supporting the Accords had been about keeping us together, safe, on the right side of the law. Now I am watching us, blow each other up? The only people who have really cared about me? The only people who have looked out for me? And now we are tearing each other apart.

Now I stand against from Clint... and Steve. How did this happen? And what if Steve is right? He had to be. Dr. Broussard was no where to be found after Bucky's escape...

I feel like I am back where I started. Back to following orders that I have no business following. But they were Tony's orders... Or where they? Were we simply becoming puppets for Secretary Ross? ... Just like Steve predicted.

I climb off the portable stairs, and head towards what they wanted, the Quinn Jet. That is when I see her. Running towards the hanger. In the shadows, fairly out of sight, but there she is all the same, Madeline Wayne, sprinting towards the jet. So she was still with them.

Good play to keep her out of sight. Tony would have lost it, had he seen her. I pick up the pace and catch up with her, although she is surprisingly fast, for a billionaire doctor.

"I'm gonna need you to stop." I say once I get close enough for her to hear me. She stops, and I notice she is wearing some sort of gear. Her pants were a combat material with, protective shields. Under her leather jacket she had on a breastplate of some kind of composite armour. Hmm, they did come prepared. I can't help but add as she slowly tuns to face me, "Thank you."

"No need for that." Madeline said shortly. I notice how tense she is, but I can see from her stance it isn't fear, it's preparedness. She is anticipating a physical attack and ready for it. I find myself being distracted from the task at hand, who is this girl?

I raise an eyebrow at her sharp response, "What a 'thank you'?"

"No, polite banter. I am over it." I start to slowly circle her to watch her reaction as she responds with a completely Stark-like answer.

"Well, you are your Uncle's niece, I can give you that." I say as I watch her move. She doesn't just watch me circle her, she moves her body in parallel with mine so she is always facing me. This girl has had hand to hand combat training, extensive training.

She takes a deep breath like she is getting bored of our interaction. "You can try and stop me if you want. And I know you. I know what you've done, I've done my research. But I am not afraid of you. So, let's stop wasting time."

I watch her closely. She isn't afraid of me, "You would be willing to go against your uncle for him?" I am still confused about how Madeline exactly got entangled with Bucky or what their connection is but it seems to be very strong for her to go up against, what, her only living family member?

Madeline responds to my question instantly and vehemently, "Bucky didn't bomb the UN. He didn't do any of it."

I get it now. It's sort of ridiculous, but I know exactly why she is doing what is doing just because of the way she says his name. She loves him. Of course she loves him. I purse my lips, what else would make a person act against their own best interests like that? I think about a million moments involving Steve. I think about him out there, fighting for his best friend. Fighting against me. Didn't I start this because I wanted to protect him? I focus up on Madeline once again, "You gonna look after them?"

Madeline actually stopped circling and looked at me with a confused look on her face, "Of course I am." She said the words like it was the most obvious answer in the world. Only looking after someone isn't always that easy... sometimes you get lost along the way, and you don't even know you are lost until it is too late again.

I look at Madeline and her face holds an honesty to it. The kind that is no nonsense. Like she just doesn't have time to beat around the bush. "Get on the Jet." I say briskly, making my choice.

"Wait... what?" Madeline looks at me like I am trying to trick her.

I shake my head feeling tension build in my chest but knowing I have already made my choice, "I am not gonna fight you. Just get on the jet and get it ready."

She stares at me for a few seconds before starting to walk towards the jet but she hesitates when she gets to my side, "Thank you." She says quietly.

I look past Madeline, out onto the airfield and see Steve and Bucky running towards the hanger, "I don't know need any thanks," I say and Madeline simply nodded and took off towards the jet.

Suddenly the air traffic control tower started to crumble. It would block the hanger door, I start moving towards the opening not sure of what I am gonna do, but then suddenly a red aura appeared holding up the tower. Wanda is helping them somewhere. They were gonna make it. But in a few moments the red disappear and I hold my breath until the dust cleared and I see Steve and Bucky still running towards me.

They both come to a slow stop when they see me standing between them and the jet. Steve looked at me, his face looking tired. I look at him and just feel exhausted, "You aren't gonna stop, are you?" I ask quietly.

He gives his head the smallest of shakes, "You know I can't." He says simply. And he looks at me like I should already know the answer. Which I did. No matter what, I still know he is Steve.

I take a deep breath, I can see movement behind Steve, and I raise my arm. Steve looks shocked, good to know he would still be shocked if I actually betrayed him. It's odd that that is somehow a comfort to me. But it is. To know that even though I stood beside Tony and not him, Steve would still be surprised if I actually hurt him. I sigh realizing just how complicated my life was going to get, "I am gonna regret this," I say but it is pure sarcasm. Even if Steve and Bucky may not realise it is.

Steve looks me right in the eye as he thinks I am gonna shoot, and I see Bucky tense in my peripheral vision. But I let the shot off before he can, I dunno tackle me? Dive in front of the shot? But instead they both turn following the trajectory of the shot as my taser blast lands on T'Challa's armour. Steve turns back around to look at me, I glare back at him and practically growl, "Go,".

He nods and takes the opportunity, he and Bucky sprint towards the plane and before I can think about anything T'Challa is getting back up and I hit him again with a stun. What is this guy made of?

I realize that once again Steve is leaving to go help Bucky and just like last time, standing in a cemetery two years ago, I want to follow him. I want to help. I have to help him. I can't not.

The Jet hovers into the air and shoots the debris out of the hanger door and I have to hit T'Challa with yet another stun to keep him away from the jet. Before I know it he is leaping into the air and for a second my heart stops as he manages to grab the landing gear but Steve is already raising it and he slips off the Jet back to the ground as they fly out of the hanger.

T'Challa slowly stands up and looks back at me, I shrug feeling his eyes on me even though I can't see them. "I said I would help you find them." I raise an eyebrow at him, "Not catch them, there is a difference."