Stark Tower, New York City, USA.
My week suspension after I had acted against Fury's orders was over but I didn't show up today. I had told Clint I was sick, but the truth was that I didn't want to leave Archer. I sit on the couch sitting sideways, Archer in front of me laying on his back, attempting to sit up on his own. I smile at my 6 month old son. I pick him up and rest him on my knees, Archer smiles when he sees me.
"Hey baby." I stroke his head gently.
"Archer, no matter what happens your father will never give up on you. I didn't want to either, but I may not have a choice. But remember I will always love you, even if I'm not there while you grow up I'll still love you." I'm trying to hold back tears, but I can't. I never used to be scared or cry so much, I would never admit it but I guess becoming a mother has made me soft.
"Natasha, are you alright." I look up from Archer, tears still brimming at my eyes.
"Yeah I'm fine." I wipe away my tears and fake a smile at Steve.
"Alright." I can tell Steve isn't convinced but he doesn't ask anything else.
"Steve, what can you tell me about James Barnes?" I ask, Archer still on my lap. Steve sits in the armchair and he gets a saddened look on his face.
"How do you know about Bucky?" Steve asks quietly
"I was looking into some files and I found his name." I lie, I didn't want to tell Steve that his best friend had been alive for all these years being trained under the red rooms.
"Bucky, was a good man. He was always there for me and always tried to set me up with girls before I became Captain America. We were infiltrating a HYDRA train and…..he fell, his body was never found." Steve tells me. The Bucky Steve knew was a lot different from the Bucky I knew.
"Steve can you take Archer for a bit?" I ask as I stand with Archer in my arms. Steve blinks as if he was returning from different planet.
"Yeah sure." Steve stands and takes Archer from me, a sad smile forms on his face when he does so. I go to my room and close the door behind me. I lay on me and Clint's bed, thinking about what Bucky's motives were. He probably wanted me back as an assassin for the red room and take Archer to train him to become a killing machine like how I used to be.
"Nat, you alright?" Clint asks as he walks into our room and closes the door behind him.
"Clint, I need to tell you something." I say, Clint sits next to me on our bed.
"What is it?" Clint asks, I sigh and look forward.
"Before you took me in, there was another man. His name was The Winter Solider, he had trained me in the red rooms. I loved him and he told me love is for children, I was convinced but even so we became intimate with each other. But when I met you and fell for you, I realized that wasn't what I felt for him." I say, Clint presses his lips onto my temple and then he pulls me close to him.
…..
It's midnight when Clint and I are awoken by Stark's voice.
"Clint! Natasha!. Get up we need your help outside." Stark leaves our room. Clint and I look at each other and get up, we quickly change into uniform and run down to outside of the tower. We freeze at the picture. Everyone is suited up and fighting a group of spies.
"Clint watch out!" I yell, Clint spins around and punches the guy who was coming at him. I pull out my guns and begin to shoot at the spies, Clint is shooting arrows. 10 minutes later, I hear someone call out.
"Пора выйти (It's time to go.)" With that everyone, who was left alive bailed out. We stand totally shocked. Not being able to understand why they'd attack and then suddenly retreat.
"I smell something not quiet right." Stark says, I turn around to see the tower set ablaze.
"Lady Pepper is in Malibu with Simon correct?" Thor asks, Stark nods.
"But Archer isn't." I say as I run into the burning building.
"Natasha!" Clint runs after me . We run to our floor to get our baby. A line of fire just blocks the hallway to his room. But if I timed this right, I could make the jump. The fire gets low enough, I run as fast as I can and I jump over the fire, it barely touches my leg.
"Tash!" Clint yells from the other side. I look at him.
"Get out! I'll find us a way out." I say and I run to Archer's room. The rocking chair is on fire and rug is also. I move around the rug to Archer's crib. He's crying, I pick him up. I'm about to get out by the door when one of the roof beam falls in the way. Just in time I had turned away and shielded Archer using my own body, I can tell my back got burned. I stiffly stand and go to the window. I'm seven stories up. I had two options jump with Archer in hand to our death or burn to death. There wasn't a way out. I stand there, a crying Archer wriggling around in my arm. I hold him close, tears in my eyes. I sit down once I feel like blacking out. As soon as I'm about to black out, I think I see a figure coming toward me, I'm not sure if it's my mind playing tricks on me or real. I don't have time to find out because as soon as it bends down, I black out.
Author's note:
Thanks so much guys for continuing on with this series! It makes me so happy. This chapter was kind of rushed sorry, next one will be better hopefully.
