The sun was just barely coming up when Steve pulled into the Avengers tower parking lot. He didn't even make it out into the garage before he heard Tony's music blasting through the tower. He made it to Tonys lab fairly quickly to find Tony fast asleep on his couch and Bruce asleep at a desk with ear plugs in.
"Jarvis can you please turn the music off."
The music immediately stopped and Tony jolted awake,
"I was listening to that!...Rogers."
"Stark, wheres Nat?"
"That's a great question, I've been trying to find the answer to that question."
"What do you mean?"
"She left, not long after you did. I figured S.H.I.E.L.D had sent her on a mission, that's what she told us but I already hacked S.H.I.E.L.D. I have no idea where she is."
"Why would she leave?"
Bruce moved and answered the question that no one else could answer.
"Before you left Natasha and I had a conversation about everyone leaving her. She probably couldn't handle you leaving her. She shut down the second you rode away. She's in no condition to be going anywhere, her body still hasn't recovered. But at this rate she'll die of a broken heart before anything else. We need to find her, you need to make things okay. Tony already has every camera in the world looking for her. Clint went to S.H.I.E.L.D late last night, trying to think of places she would be. Thor should be coming back from New Mexico tomorrow."
Steve took only seconds to process.
"How do I help?"
"You figure out how to make her see that you are in this for the long run."
Clint walked into the room, barely glancing at Steve.
"She doesn't wanna be found. Its best to just give her some space, If she's not back in a month I say we go through hell to get Tash back."
"A month?"
"Fine Steve, two weeks. Seeing as this is the black widow we're dealing with and not Natasha I guess we should be more cautious."
The pain on Steve's face was obvious but it was clear that Clint was blaming Steve for Natasha's disappearance and he was not in a forgiving mood.
"I have to get back to headquarters. They need me on a mission, I'll be back before the end of the week. Tell the big guy I say hi when he gets here tomorrow."
Clint was gone before anyone could say anything. The room was filled with Tony's music again soon and Bruce put his ear plugs back in. Steve just shook his head and headed to the gym.
Natasha took down a group of guards outside the house she was trying to get access to. The man inside did not seem alarmed to see her.
"Я ожидал увидеть вас раньше, Наталья. Или я должен сказать Наташе? Ведь ты предатель, я должен говорить английски с вами, вы потеряли право считаться русским."
(I had expected to see you sooner Natalia. Or should i say Natasha? After all you are a traitor, I should be speaking english to you, you have lost your right to be considered Russian.)
"Мой России это хорошо. Вы знаете, почему я здесь. Где он?"
(My russian is fine. You know why i'm here. Where is he?)
He answered in English, his Russian accent bleeding thickly into his words.
"Why don't you sit down. Let us think on old times and remember the good old times."
"There are no good old times. I have no interest in working for red room, or recalling any events from that time. Where is James."
"Now why would I tell you Natalia. What good would that do me?"
"I might let you live."
A smile played on the lips of the old man.
"Why do you want to find the soldier. That ring on your finger leads me to believe that he has moved on."
Natasha face did not alter.
"Where is he?"
The old man simply smiled as Natasha stepped forward and powered up her widow bites.
"where is he?"
The old mans smile faltered as Natasha got closer and showed no signs of stopping.
"he's here. In Moscow."
Natasha smiled but continued to walk forward.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
"will you not spare my life? Have you no remorse Natalia?"
"No, you took that away from me the moment you lit my parents house on fire and took me to that horrible place."
He was gone in seconds.
Natasha walked out of his house and into the town not far away. She knew there was someone following her. She knew who it was.
"You know James, it's creepy to follow a lady."
"It's a good thing youre no lady Natalia. You came back to me."
"I never left, you did. I'm not here for me. I'm here for Steve."
"Steve? Rogers?"
"Captain America himself. Although I'm not quite sure if he wants to see you right now."
James nodded towards the bar down the streets and offered Natasha his arm but she walked by.
"Natasha…do you know who Steve is to me?"
"Your best friend? I know it all. I know him very well."
"I doubt that. Steve isn't one for casual sex."
"who said anything about casual sex."
James looked at her oddly as he opened the door for her.
"so you two are friends?"
"engaged."
James stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes went wide and his jaw dropped. The feelings he had for Natasha were real, and still strong. But Steve…that was a name he had never expected to hear again. He had remembered not too long ago, his amnesia was getting better, his memories were coming back.
"If you're…engaged to Steve. What are you doing here? How long have you been here?"
"I've been here nearly 2 weeks. And my reason is none of your business."
Before Bucky could respond he noticed someone watching them from the end of the bar. His fingers wrapped around Natasha arm as he pulled her away.
"Theres someone here. Watching us."
"I know, I saw her the moment we walked in. That's Maria Hill, she works for my agency."
They both noticed that Bucky was still holding onto Natasha, the cool metal of Bucky's arm was so familiar. Natasha turned and walked towards Maria.
"Agent Romanoff. You are needed in Venezuela. The rest of the Avengers are being called in. A small group seems to have gotten a hold of dangerous chemicals and machinery. We want to put a stop to this before it goes wrong and any innocent lives are lost. You are to come with me tonight. I'll be waiting in the car out back. Don't take long."
Natasha nodded and walked back to Bucky.
"I'm leaving, duty calls."
"I miss you Natasha."
"I know, I miss you too. Come with me. Be the good guy."
"I don't know if I can."
"James, if I can be good so can you. Easily."
"I don't think your people would be very pleased if you brought me in."
"Come for me… come for Steve. Just meet us there."
"How will I know where you are."
"you always know. You know how to find me no matter where I am."
James nodded.
"we'll see."
Natasha met Maria in the dark car.
He always know how to find me. He just never even bothered trying.
"Will Captain Rogers be there?"
Someone spoke up from the front seat.
"You bet he will princess. Good to see you, gotta say you look like shit."
"What are you doing here Tony."
"just thought I'd catch you up on what has happened at casa de Avengers."
"Doesn't matter."
"yes it does Peaches. We have been looking for you nonstop. Steve would have gone gray of he could."
"Steve?"
"He came back only hours after you left. Realized he messed up. He came back looking for you so he could apologize."
"He came back?"
"He came back Tasha. Hear him out, he loves you. What you two have isnt worth throwing away. I have your wedding pretty much planned, don't make me scrap it."
Natasha chuckled and shook her head. She let out another chuckle when Tony climbed from the passengers seat into the back seat. He put his around her shoulders and pulled her in.
"Sleep honey. You're looking too thin, I miss those gorgeous curves."
Natasha shook her head and cuddled into Tony falling asleep almost instantly. Steve had come back for her, he still loved her.
