"Natasha, we're here."
"at the jet?"
"no, in Venezuela."
"what?"
"I carried you into the jet, you slept all the way here. When was the last time you actually slept."
"good night of sleep? When I was in a coma. Slept at all, the night before Steve left. I've been getting like an hour of sleep a night."
"oh peaches, you're destroying yourself."
"That says a lot coming from you Stark."
"Shut up, and get your suit on."
Natasha smiled and got up, stretching out her stiff muscles and slipping into her catsuit and attempting to hide her dark circles.
"you know that catsuit used to fit you a little more snug. You've lost some weight."
"yeah, I haven't had much of an appetite lately. That added to the lack of sleep and some stress."
"you know youre gorgeous babe, but you look like shit."
"thanks Tony, love you too."
Tony suited up and got a secure hold on Natasha.
"we're flying down the rest of the way. Meeting the team in a small remote place, kicking some ass and getting back home for drink and food."
Natasha smirked and brushed her hand over her engagement ring as they took off. It only took several minutes to make it down to the small camp the rest of the team had already set up. As soon as they landed Steve stepped forward, sans his mask.
"Natasha, please, you need to know that I love you more than anything in this world because you are my world. Leaving you was the worst mistake I've ever made and…"
Steve's speech was cut short by Natasha pulling him into her and kissing him passionately.
"I love you too, but maybe we can talk about this later."
There was clapping heard from some distance.
"You know Stevie, I always figured I was more of a ladies man, never pegged you as the kind to marry little Natalia."
Steve froze in place as he looked up and saw James Barnes stairing back at him, the metal arm drawing his attention right away.
"Bucky."
"Hey buddy, long time no see."
Natasha nudged Steve towards Bucky as she walked toward Clint. Once she reached him, he instinctively wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into him.
"I missed you Nat. You scared the shit out of me."
"Sorry."
"Don't do it again."
Everyone had turned around to give James and Steve some privacy. Thor and Bruce both took their turns welcoming Natasha back.
"You feeling alright Nat?"
"I'm fine Bruce. I'll even let you run some tests to make sure when we get home."
"You are finally coming home Lady Natasha?"
"Yeah Thor, it's about time"
Clint walked over and wrapped his arms around Natasha's waist. They we're talking about their strategy when they saw movement in the woods near them. Clint had his bow out, Thor raised his hammer and Steve, Natasha and James we're in fighting poses. James and Natasha both chased after the movement. It didn't take them long to reach a small cave. They saw a young man run inside, his gun waving freely in his hand.
"He's holding his gun wrong, he has no idea what he's doing."
"Why does that matter Natalia."
Steve and the rest of the Avengers ran up behind them as Natasha puzzled over her answer.
"Alright Clint, you Thor and Banner stay out here ready to charge in any second. Stark fly over head and see if theres anything important we need to know, maybe theres another way out. Nat, you come with me, we're getting inside…James, come with us."
James smiled and followed Natasha and Steve into the cave. There was almost utter silence inside. Almost. Natasha and Steve's superior hearing allowed them to hear metal clanking coming from deeper within the cave. Steve took the lead and lead them to a small chamber, the smell was overwhelming.
"Banner, we might need you in here not as the Hulk…just as a genius."
"did you find the chemicals?"
"yes sir."
Natasha rolled her eyes at Steve as he called Bruce sir. There was soft whispers outside the door. The same young man that they had previously seen walked in followed by someone who looked even younger. Before he could yell out James had snapped his neck. The younger boy stood shocked.
"Kid, don't scream or youre gonna end up the same way your little friend did. Now why don't you help me out?"
He simply stared and nodded. Steve was stairing at Bucky as well.
"How many men are here."
"I don't know. I've never counted."
"guess"
"200? Maybe more."
"what is going on here."
"I don't know. I'm just here for security."
"you don't know anything at all?"
"Well, I overheard one of the guys saying that the weapons were almost ready. And something about poisonous gas. That's all I know, I swear."
"Alright kid get out of here."
As the kid turned around James snapped his neck as well.
"Don't look so surprised Natalia. You know we cant have any lose ends, don't tell me you've gone soft."
"I haven't gone soft. I just try not to kill unless its necessary."
James snorted as he walked further into the room. Steve called for Banner again, telling the rest of the avengers to meet them there. They had been well informed by S.H.I.E.L.D to take care of everyone there.
"we're already outside the door captain. Just waiting for you."
Steve nodded towards Natasha and James and they followed him out. Bruce walked in to take a look at the chemicals and Clint stood guard as the rest of the avengers followed Steve to where more noise was coming from. There were lines of Guards seemingly waiting for intruders. The first one to notice them was down in seconds at the hands of Bucky. As the rest of the Avengers kept on fighting Steve and Tony went into the area that the men were guarding. The room was full of scientists and men working at tables, the shock on their faces was evident. They felt the room shake as Thor got angry and got rid of the majority of men. Natasha ran into the room after Tony and Steve. Some scientists we're trying to run away but Natasha and Steve kept knocking them out as Tony took care of some of the guards that we're entering the room. They we're soon joined by Clint, James, Thor and Bruce. The majority of the men were knocked out, some we're cowering.
"Well, looks like we're done here. Stark, call S.H.I.E.L.D."
James looked at them.
"I should get going."
"You can stay Bucky."
"No, I should go. I don't belong here, I may have at one point, but I cant remember that time anymore. Good luck with everything Steve, you've stayed a good man. Good luck with Natalia."
He hugged Steve and dropped a kiss on Natasha's head as he walked away. When Bucky was out of sight they heard footsteps at a dark corner of the cave. A short, plump man, dressed very nicely looked at them, examining each avenger. They all stepped forward but the man simply smashed a glass vial before picking up a gun off a table and taking his own life. They all heard Bruce yell at them to run away but smoke filled the room before anyone could process anything. Natasha felt herself being pushed out by several strong hands. There were several explosions going off, the sound of rock crumbling was heard.
"RUN!"
Tony urged them all as he lit the way, Thor was swirling his hammer to clear the air a little. Bruce had hulked out and was trying to block any of the chemicals from reaching the other avengers. Steve and Clint seemed to be shielding Natasha from anything. By the time they made it to the end of the cave, S.H.I.E.L.D was landing, a plethora of S.H.I.E.L.D workers immediately began sealing off the cave. The Avengers we're taken onto the aircraft and immediately asked to strip off their uniforms. Bruce had de-hulked and was already in a decontamination shower. Thor followed suit as did Tony, part of his helmet had smashed during one of the explosions and had cut a gash in his forehead but other than that he seemed fine. Steve and Clint we're both lightheaded and coughing, they, as well as Natasha we're struggling to peel off their uniforms, they were sticking to their skin. As they tried to take off their tight uniforms they peeled off skin. All three of them we're taken to the showers, soaking their uniforms before continuing to take the rest off. Steve and Clint we're attached to machines after their showers to help them breathe and get all the toxins out. The rest of them were attached as well although Tony, Thor and Bruce seemed to not have been affected by the chemicals. They all had some cuts and bruises from the explosion but luckily they seemed to be fine for the most part.
Natasha scolded Clint and Steve for risking their lives to keep her safe and ended her rant by kissing each one on the cheek.
"Nat, calm down. Why don't we just focus on getting home and getting some rest, food and clothes."
Natasha looked at Bruce, finally noticing that they were all covered with only the blankets they had been given. They sighed and leaned back in her seat, admitting defeat. She fell asleep once Thor sat down next to her, his body heat providing her comfort. The sounds of Clint's and Steve's oxygen machines rung in her head.
