"Where's Tasha?"
"I don't know, I'm not the one sleeping with her capsicle, shouldn't you know?"
Steve rolled his eyes and politely asked Jarvis for his fiancées whereabouts.
"She is in the gym just like the last times you have asked over the last two weeks mister Rogers, would you like me to request here presence?"
"No thanks Jarvis. Thank you"
"You are very welcome Mr. Rogers."
"You know Capsicle, I'm starting to think Jarvis has got a thing for you."
Steve rolled his eyes and began making coffee for himself and Tony.
"Anastasia has been practically living in the gym."
"She wants to be back in shape for the next mission."
The group was scheduled to be dropped off on the outskirts of Vegas for a ballet show. It seemed like an odd place for a mission until they learned that it was just a cover up for a weapon smuggling plan being led by an English woman. Clint was supposed to escort the newest ballerina Natasha who would be known as 'Natalia Kozlov'. From there he was to get close to their target, Natasha had teased him for having to do the seducing. All he had to do was get flash drive that held all the information. The rest of the Avengers were going in as precautions. Natasha had spent countless hours in the gym over the past few weeks and it was effective. The super soldier serum she was injected with seemed to speed up the process of getting back into shape, she looked the same that she had looked a year ago. By the time she came upstairs it was beginning to get dark out, they would have to leave in several hours.
"Nat, you want some food?"
"Yes please, can you make waffles?"
Clint nodded and smirked.
"You know I'm starting to believe you have some sort of chemical dependency on my waffles."
"You already know I do."
She waited patiently as he finished her waffles and served them.
"So are you ready to turn on the charm?"
"Nat, you know I don't need to. I'm already a lady magnet."
Natasha snorted and finished her waffles. She stretched out her hand to pat his band and walked out of the kitchen towards her room.
"Sure you are Barton."
She finished packing everything she would need and showered. When she came out Steve was sprawled out on the bed nodding off to sleep. His bag was next to hers by the door. She was quick to cuddle up next to him, burying her face in the crook of his neck. Her fingers felt cold as she rested her hands on his stomach under his shirt.
"You know I don't think I ever thanked you for saving me."
Steve looked down at her with questioning eyes, clearly confused.
"Back at the battle against Loki, you shielded me from getting hurt."
"I'll always protect you Natasha."
"I know, but there are some things not even captain America can protect me from?"
He sat up and looked down at her with worried eyes.
"Like what?"
"Myself"
"Tasha…what are you talking about."
"Just…forget it. We have to leave soon; I need to finish getting ready."
His worried eyes followed Natasha until she walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She didn't come back out until Jarvis notified them that the jet was waiting on the roof of Stark tower. She walked out beautifully made up, her hair in a perfect ballerina bun. Steve followed her out of the room, her words still haunting him. The group noticed the way Steve was looking at Natasha. The ride was quiet besides Clint trying out different smirks and Tony and Thor mocking him. The closer they got to Vegas the more unnerved Natasha seemed to get.
"You alright Tash? You look like you're going to hurl."
"Fine…just nervous."
"You walk into life threatening situations daily without batting an eye but a ballet recital has your panties in a bunch."
She glared at him and deserted her seat, walking towards him with the smirk she usually had during missions. He was quick to stand too.
"Stand straight and still, I have to stretch."
Clint looked completely dumbfounded, as did everyone else as Natasha raised her leg and rested her ankle on Clint's shoulder, ignoring the bewildered looks they were all giving her. The plane landed softly on the outskirts of Vegas, Natasha was fidgety, she was never this way. It didn't take Steve long to realize that this would be her first time actually dancing in front of people. She had previously believed that she had done it, but it had been a lie. His hand found her and he gave it a reassuring squeeze, their earlier talk was pushed to the back of his mind. They entered a two small connected motel rooms that would be shared by the avengers for the night. Natasha and Clint had to instantly get ready. Clint walked out of the bathroom wearing a tux.
"You clean up nice Barton."
"Thanks Tas-"
He dint even finish his sentence when he took a look at Natasha. A deep purple tight fitting dress and sky high black pumps accentuated Natasha's curves in all the right places. Clint was brought out of his thoughts by a hard smack to the back of his head.
"Watch out for wandering hands, you might need them to continue working."
"Geez Cap, I agree with Stark…you are threatening."
Steve rolled his eyes as he finished helping Natasha button up the back of her dress.
"Alright kiddies, Bruce will be in the venue with you watching the performance. Steve will be in the ballroom for the after party which is where Clint will put the moves on and I get to wait outside the hotel to watch the real action. Thor you're with me"
Natasha nodded and took Clint's arm. He was carrying her bag full weapons and ballet materials.
"See you guys in a bit."
They all left to their waiting spots. The comms were silent until Clint and Natasha entered the venue and the roar of the people in the room was almost deafening. Many people in the room were undercover S.H.I.E.L.D agents who 'recognized' the famous ballerina and were instantly trying to get pictures with her and autographs. Clint instantly noticed their target who was staring straight at them with a smirk on her face. Clint led Natasha backstage and took a seat right by their mark. The lights dimmed and Natasha appeared on the stage with a beautiful smile on her face and began to execute every move with perfect precision and fluidity. People were staring in amazement and wonder. Even Bruce and Clint were mesmerized. The performance seemed to be over too quickly and every single person in the room was standing giving Natasha a standing ovation. Clint could have sworn he saw a tear slipping from her eye. They were all almost instantly led to the ballroom as Natasha was escorted backstage to change. Steve was at the bar drinking water and Bruce was at another corner of room talking with a S.H.I.E.L.D agent. Clint soon joined their mark at the bar.
"Can I buy you a drink?"
"I'd never turn down a drink."
The woman seemed to be openly flirting with Clint while Steve looked awkward to be in such close proximity to them. Especially with Tony making crude comments over the comm.
"You escorted the ballerina didn't you?"
"Yes, Miss Kozlov is a dear friend."
"Miss? She's single"
Tony's laughter was nearly deafening as he realized the twist this mission was taking. Bruce was trying to hold back a chuckle. Natasha's smooth voice rand clearly through the comm.
"Well what do you know; even when you're the seducer they still want me. Isn't that odd Barton?"
Clint ignored her comment as answered their mark.
"Yes she is. She'll actually be joining us shortly."
"Would she be interested?"
Once again Tony's laughter rang clearly and was soon joined by Thor who was just realizing what was happening. Steve seemed to have a very tight grip on his glass.
"I think she definitely would be…here she comes. Natalia over here!"
Natasha looked over from where she was receiving praise from a group of people and began to walk over, sashaying her hips. Her Russian accent was slightly prominent in her speech.
"Dominick, my good friend I do hope you enjoyed the show…and you are?"
"Adriana, pleasure to meet you. The show was incredible."
"Thank you, the pleasure is all mine. I'm Natalia."
Natasha smiled at their mark and sat very close to her. Clint sat awkwardly next to them for the next hour as Natasha and their mark flirted shamelessly. They slipped out soon followed by Steve, Clint and Bruce.
"Legolas, Capsicle, Brucie, Tasha and the lady just entered their room and looks like this lady is not holding back. I'm gonna get quite a show before we get anything done. Tasha just served her a drink, looks like she slipped in a pill. There's security outside the room as well as on the roof and outside in the back of the hotel, the guys in the back have some big toys."
"Alright, Stark you keep eyes on the target until Clint get there. Thor you got the guys on the roof, just try to keep it quiet. Stark once Barton gets there you take care of the guys in the back. Take Banner with you, I'll get the ones outside the room."
"Got it Capsicle"
Clint popped up behind Tony and got a good look at what was happening.
"Damn, that's pretty hot."
Steve huffed, clearly irritated.
"Alrighty Legolas you got it from here. But before I go, Jarvis full body scan on the target. Gotta make sure the drug is taking effect."
"Sir, the target is in fact under the influence of a drug. However her systems are all working well. All vitals are functioning, the baby is also fine."
They could see Natasha faltered as she heard that their target was with child but she had to keep moving. Thunder rang out and it was clear that Thor was winning on the roof. The hulk had been unleashed and he had demolished the men in the back. Tony barely had to take anyone out. Outside of the hotel room one of the men hit the door and let out a bang as Steve was taking them down. Their target got off the bed and tried to make a move for the door. Natasha was on her in a second.
"I'm so sorry"
And with that Natasha snapped her neck, tears making their way down her face as she thought of the child that would never have a chance. She grabbed her clothes that were scattered around the room and searched for the flash drive. Finding it in the woman's jacket pocket and walking out of the room just as Steve was taking out the last man.
"Nat-"
"I just need to go."
She handed him the flash drive and walked away. Several S.H.I.E.L.D agents arrived for clean up but Steve couldn't tare his eyes away from the area where Natasha no longer stood.
wow, summer is over. I start school tomorrow (senior year). I'll try to upload as much as possible, I swear.
Reviews are always welcome ;)
