Nat was home with Peggy while Steve and Bucky were off on a training exercise when she got a frantic phone call from Pepper. She listened to her friend with a sympathetic ear as well as a professional one.
Evidently, Tony had decided to run a quick unauthorized mission on his own and something had gone terribly wrong. Pepper said she had no idea he was going off on his own until she got a notification from JARVIS.
"Pepper, I know you're upset but slow down and tell me exactly what JARVIS said," Natasha was already texting Steve on a burner phone that they kept for emergencies; he was the Team leader after all, not just her husband. She signaled Peggy to try and reach Bucky as well while she listened to Pepper.
"Tony heard about a weapons shipment coming in through Brooklyn Harbor," Pepper was a bit more clipped in her speech when she was upset with Tony.
"He was suited up though, right?" Nat asked.
"He was but from what I understand, he had a malfunction and kind of crash landed into the middle of the ware house where they're storing everything." Pepper sounded exasperated.
"Okay, I'm still trying to get hold of Steve, I'll call you back in a minute," Nat told her.
"Nothing," Peggy said. She'd texted Bucky several times and received no response.
"Me either. They're probably on radio silence for the training," Nat said. "Well shit. We're going to have to do something, Tony could be in real trouble, the idiot. Bruce is out, we don't want him Hulking out and demolishing the warehouse while Tony is still inside. Clint's back at the farm; Thor's still here, isn't he?"
"I think so," Peggy said, "I'll call him and see if he can come help us."
"Great, I'll go change and be right with you."
Nat struggled into her catsuit. She'd noticed that she'd gained a little weight since being back. Time to hit the gym again and stay in fighting form. Quickly, she strapped on her Widows Bites and utility belt along with the gauntlets that Tony had given her with two small missiles attached.
"Thor's on his way," Peggy hollered.
"Great!" Nat acknowledged, running back downstairs and grabbing her car keys. Peggy soon joined her wearing a nearly identical catsuit, courtesy of Stark Industries, and Thor arrived to find them waiting by Nat's car.
Nat drove like a bat out of hell to the dock area. She and Thor made Peggy stay in the car. Peggy had mission and combat experience but it was from WWII and Nat didn't want to get her killed since it could be any number of things in this era that Peggy would not be familiar with. Peggy grumbled about it but in the end, agreed to it after Thor threatened to send her to Asgard for safekeeping.
After a brief discussion, Nat and Thor came to an agreement on how to handle things. Thor took to the skies and Nat took to the rooftops, both cautiously approaching the building with Tony's GPS pinging in it. There were a hell of a lot more guards than either of them had figured. Thor landed on the roof next to Nat and crouched down as far as an almost seven foot tall demi-god could crouch.
"Lady Natasha, I can easily take all of those guards with one bolt of lightening but I fear for Stark's safety inside."
"Agreed," Nat said, "Let me get closer and see if I can pinpoint Tony and see how many are with him. We may be able to strike at the same time and get him out before anyone knows what happened."
She took a running leap into Thor's clasped hands and he tossed her across the void between the buildings. It was not as stable as Steve's shield but it got the job done. She landed and rolled, coming up with both guns in her hands. Making it across the roof proved less than problematic as there were no guards posted. 'Amateurs', she figured.
Picking the lock on the rooftop door took her seconds and she disappeared into the building as Thor watched. Nat crept down the stairs, silent as a shadow and less visible. When she got close enough she could see the majority of the activity as toward the back of the warehouse towards the docks. Crates of glowing weapons were being loaded onto fork lifts. Hydra weapons? Chitauri? What the hell?
She scanned the floor beneath her and found Tony in an unenclosed cubicle, out of his Iron Man suit, with two guards around him. As far as she could see there were no other safeguards, no cameras, no alarms anywhere near where Tony was. Shit. This was way too easy. Now her self-preservation instincts clicked on. Something was very wrong. They were holding an Avenger, Tony Stark no less, who was worth literally billions of dollars with nothing but two half-assed guards.
Tony had to be more than a hostage; he was bait for something they wanted and they were counting on an Avenger response. The guards near him weren't holding their weapons like professional mercenaries would. Nat was betting they didn't know how to unlock the safety on their guns or how to reload for that matter.
Softly, she crept back up the stairs to the roof and motioned Thor over. He landed lightly next to her.
"There's something wrong with this," Nat explained to him and told him her reasoning.
Thor listened intently, "Your assessment seems to be very accurate, Lady Natasha. If Stark does not appear to be in any immediate danger and we have not received a ransom demand, perhaps we should maintain position and hopefully Captain Rogers will return shortly."
"Agreed." Nat said as she texted Peggy with instructions to take the car and go back to the mansion; then Pepper to let her know they were in a holding pattern for the moment. She and Thor took up more strategic positions on the roof to wait. She kept her phone on in case Steve or S.H.I.E.L.D. called with a possible ransom demand.
After about an hour, her phone buzzed: it was Steve. "Nat? Are you okay, sweetheart? What's going on?"
"Pepper called and said Tony went off the rails to try and stop a weapons shipment he heard about. Thor and I have scoped out the place and it's weird, Steve, they've only got two obviously incompetent guards on Tony but there are a hell of a lot of either Hydra or Chitauri weapons in there and way too many guards for this operation. We're holding position until you get here."
"Did you notify S.H.I.E.L.D.?
"No. If Tony is hotdogging again, I didn't want Fury on our collective asses if this went South. We didn't tell Bruce either. Hulk in this area would be a bad idea. Clint is with his family, so he's not available. If Bucky's with you, you might bring him as well. Tell him that I sent Peggy home. She can handle herself in a fight but she's never seen the kind of shit these weapons can do."
"Good thinking. I'm on my way, Sweetheart. I'll call Pepper and let her know." Steve signed off.
She texted him the coordinates of the building they were on and sat back to wait. Thor looked at her concernedly, "Lady Natasha? Are you unwell? You appear very pale."
Come to think of it, she was feeling a little clammy. Suddenly her stomach lurched and she ran to the side of the building to barf.
Thor sweetly held her hair for her, his strong arm encircling her waist so she didn't topple over the side.
"Oh, god, Thor, I don't know what the hell is wrong with me."
"Did Dr. Banner say that you were cleared to fight?"
"No, but he didn't say I wasn't either. He's still trying to figure out what's going on with me."
Thor shifted her in his arms, settling her on his lap as they waited for Steve. He gently stroked her hair back until she relaxed against his chest. "Better?"
"Yes, thank you." Nat said and tried to sit up.
"Stay put, at least until Captain Rogers arrives." Thor told her.
Nat felt just crappy enough not to argue. Steve and Bucky arrived shortly thereafter; climbing up the side of the building Nat and Thor had originally started on then leaping across the space to where they now were. Steve took one look at Natasha sitting in Thor's lap, pale and sweating and asked Thor to take her home. Nat refused until she showed him everything they'd discovered.
"Steve, I'm fine. I just barfed, that's all." Nat hated it when he got overly concerned with her well being. She'd weathered worse than this before she ever knew him and pointed that out.
"The difference now is, you have a husband who cares about you and a Captain who is not going to risk you getting hurt or getting someone else hurt because you're sick." Steve informed her.
"Tony's risking getting himself and everyone else killed," Nat groused to him, with a sulky look.
"I'm going to deal with Tony after we get through with this mess, I assure you. I've already discussed it with Pepper." Steve said. "Right now, I've got the ATF and FBI moving in to surround the building. This really isn't something that calls for an Avenger intervention. I'd like to keep us out of it if at all possible."
"So, why bother sending me home then if you're not having us engage?" Nat asked him.
"Because you look like you feel terrible, sweetheart. I don't want you stuck up here when you could be home lying down. Peggy can look after you for awhile until I get there. Will you please just do as I ask and let Thor take you home?" Steve asked her with a gentle kiss.
"Honestly I'm feeling a lot better," Nat struggled off of Thor's lap and stood up to demonstrate. She promptly went pale and pitched forward. Steve caught her and scooped her up in his arms.
"All right, that's enough. Thor, take her home please. I'll be there as soon as I can." Steve handed Nat over to Thor who cradled her in one arm, spun Mjolinir and took to the skies.
"She's a stubborn little thing," Bucky chuckled.
"You've got that right," Steve agreed, watching the progress of the ATF and FBI agents as they efficiently surrounded the building and began arresting everyone.
"She kind of reminds me of you." Bucky snorted.
"Oh come on, Buck, I was never that bad." Steve smiled at his friend.
"You were ten times worse." Bucky laughed, and dodged the punch Steve aimed at his arm.
"I was not." Steve grumbled, watching the progress on the street below. Soon, he saw Tony being led out and put in the back of an FBI SUV. He looked a little shaken but no worse for wear.
"You were too; is that Stark down there?" Bucky asked.
"Yup. We're going back to the Avengers Tower and wait for Pepper to bring him home. He and I need to have a talk," Steve said grimly.
Bucky's eyebrows shot up at Steve's tone. "Do I want to know what you're going to discuss?"
"Probably not," Steve said. "I promised Howard that I'd be godfather to any children he had and look after them if he wasn't around. Howard didn't do such a great job of looking after Tony from what I can see and from what Pepper's told me."
"What's your plan then?" Bucky asked.
"I'm going to sit him down for a conversation he isn't going to enjoy then take him in hand if necessary." Steve said, walking toward the rooftop stairwell.
He and Bucky hurried down the stairs, checking in with the head ATF and FBI agents on site. They were very grateful that Steve had notified them. The arrests had been clean and without incident. The Avengers name would not be added to the report at Steve's request. He wanted to work with other agencies, not overshadow them. The FBI even offered to drive him and Bucky back to the Avengers Tower; they readily accepted.
Back at the Tower, Steve removed his helmet, handing it and his shield to Bucky. "Wait here. I'll be down in a few minutes and Happy, Tony's chauffeur will take us home."
Bucky waited in the spacious lobby, admiring the artwork, fountains and view. It was really beautiful architecture, he noticed. Every day he was still amazed at the differences in the City that he had known versus the city that he now lived in.
Pepper came out of one of the elevators and walked over to him. "Hey, Bucky," she said.
"Hi, Pepper. Everything okay?"
"I hope it will be. Steve's having a word with Tony about today."
"That doesn't sound good," Bucky said.
"I'm hoping he'll listen to Steve and stop this lone vigilante behavior. He could have gotten himself killed, again!" Pepper was furious and flustered.
"If anyone can get him to listen, it's Steve," Bucky told her.
"I want to know what's going on but Steve asked me to give them some privacy."
Bucky's eyes widened, "Um...Steve may not just be giving him a lecture, Pepper."
"Oh, my god," Pepper clapped her hand over her mouth. "Seriously? Steve might actually..."
"Spank him? Oh yeah." Bucky grinned. "We grew up in a time when that was perfectly acceptable. Steve got the least amount of ass warmings of any other kid we knew but we've all been there, including me."
"Howard and Marie never disciplined him. I know that for a fact," Pepper said. "Jarvis, his family's butler did to an extent but I don't think anyone's ever gotten away with telling Tony, 'No'."
"No one until now," Steve came up to the two of them, having caught the last bit of what Pepper was saying.
"Steve! Is everything all right? Is Tony all right?" Pepper was wide eyed.
"Tony will be fine," Steve assured her. "I don't think he'd going to pull that kind of stunt again."
"What happened?" Pepper asked.
"Let's just say that Tony now knows his...'godfather' and his Captain are serious about his safety and the safety of this team." Steve smiled at her then shifted topics. "Do you mind if Happy drives Bucky and I home? Nat wasn't feeling well earlier and I really need to get back to her."
"Sure, Steve, that's fine. I guess I'll go back up then."
"I'd give him a few minutes, Pepper. Just let him settle a bit." Steve said, giving her a quick hug.
"Thank you, Steve." Pepper gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"No problem. That's what I'm here for." Steve took his shield and helmet back from Bucky and the two of them went out to the waiting limo with Happy at the wheel.
Bucky waited until they got back to the mansion, after Happy had driven off. "What happened with Tony?"
Steve gave him a hard look, "What do you think happened?"
"I think you gave him a patented Captain America ass warming," Bucky grinned.
"Let's just say he can't claim Natasha is my only favorite anymore." Steve's mouth quirked up on one side.
"Well, he needed it," Bucky opened the door to their shared home.
"I think he'll give serious thought to doing anything solo again; at least for awhile." Steve followed him into the house.
Natasha was on the couch with Peggy, watching a news report of the arrest and confiscation of illegal weapons. Her color was better, Steve noticed as he knelt down and kissed her forehead.
"Feeling better?"
"Yeah, I am. What did the FBI and ATF determine about that whole set up?" Nat looked up at Steve.
"It was a couple of low level Hydra goons who thought they could draw the Avengers into a conflict. They wanted us to barge in there, guns figuratively blazing to rescue Tony, then point out that the Avengers used superior firepower and skills against untrained henchmen. Sort of a bad publicity stunt." Steve told her.
"They're trying to discredit us?"
"Basically, yes. There's been some fall out after New York; that we could have done more to protect against property damage and loss of life." Steve sighed.
"What the hell? No one would be alive in that part of the city at least if we hadn't been there." Natasha was outraged.
"I know, love, but you know how these things can swing. One minute we're heroes, the next we shouldn't have been there. It's the same story with any group that tries to do right by the public. Look at how a few bad police officers have caused public distrust about law enforcement in general." Steve settled on the floor in front of her.
Bucky and Peggy were cuddling on the other end of the couch. "You're right about that, Steve. I wonder what would have happened if you all just stepped back and said, 'No, you all handle this.'"
"There would be a public outcry that the Avengers were cowards and not worth the support they've been given." Steve said.
"Can't win for losing, it seems," Peggy said.
"How's Tony?" Nat asked.
"Discovering how to think things through while standing, I imagine." Steve said dryly.
"Shit, Steve, did you really spank him?" Natasha asked him with wide eyes.
"That paddle Pepper has is very effective. I may have to borrow it next time you're being stubborn."
Steve ducked when she reached out to whack him in the head, then pulled her down into his lap and kissed her. "I'm glad you're feeling better, however. Did you call Bruce?"
"No, but I will tomorrow. I'm really tired of spontaneous barfing and those stupid emotional outbursts." Nat grumbled.
"I just want you to feel better." Steve said, nuzzling her hair. "Of course when we find out how to fix this, you may not need me so much."
"There will never be a time that I don't need you," Nat assured him, hugging him tightly. His arms tightened around her, enjoying just having her in his embrace.
"How about if Steve and I get cleaned up then we get some Chinese take out and watch a movie together?" Bucky asked.
Peggy and Nat readily agreed. It was a rare evening when all of them could just relax and enjoy each other's company.