No-One But You (The Mystic Consultant) - Part 2

Chapter 42: Emberkreiss (Part2)

"Agent" Natasha Romanov was in the process of hand delivering a box that was filled to the brim with S.H.I.E.L.D. reports and sighting fact sheets about a man named Charles Bernard Barton.

Clint Barton referred to him as Barney, or "big brother" as he grew up, but now he was known as "Trick Shot." Trick Shot hadn't been spotted by any S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel for a long time, so Natasha briefly wondered why the baby archer randomly decided to find his brother.

It didn't take her long to determine that the archer actually wanted to get himself out of town and distracted from anything related to Victor Strange.

She saw it coming months ago, but she didn't say anything about it. Natasha felt it wasn't her place to comment on what was happening in Agent Barton's personal life. She brought him the box of goods as he re-settled himself at the S.H.I.E.L.D. base. He moved in with Victor a while ago, and he made a comment about not really wanting to return.

The baby bird didn't like the lighting in his room, but he shrugged it off and he started going through the box. Clint was in the mood to backward map where his brother had been, then piece together where he might have ended up. If he was alive…

Natasha watched him as he began to unpack the contents within the box. She stared for a short while until she felt a subtle buzz against her left hip. Her cellphone vibrated, so the Widow glanced down toward her leg. She pried her phone out of her front pocket after a short while. She saw Bucky's name on the small screen, then she glanced over at the quiet archer.

"Just let me know when you plan to head out. I'll help you find him."

She gave the fellow S.H.I.E.L.D. agent a small smile, then she slowly backed up and out of the room. Natasha figured that he needed a day or two to process the information she provided, then the two of them would head out and track him down. Bucky Barnes had expert timing, so Natasha read over the text message that was sent in her direction.

Bucky asked her if she was still in New York. He wrote that he was in Brooklyn and that he wanted to talk. "Talking" with Bucky wasn't really a thing, so Natasha thought it over. She walked into her own living quarters as she pondered his message. Natasha processed, then she started looking around for a change of clothes. She was still wearing the tactical gear from Tony's musical endeavor, so the Widow decided to change it up.

She responded to Bucky after she changed her clothing. She told him that she was in New York, and that she would head his way soon.

Bucky was glad to receive the message, but he was actually dreading the conversation. The lecture he received from his good ol' buddy Steve had him thinking a bit too clearly, and it had him troubling over everyone's behavior. Steve hit a home run with his final comment… He told Bucky that for as long as he's known him, he's always been juggling to have a relationship between either two men or two women.

The not-so-winter soldier wasn't forgetful, but he never cared to hold onto any of those details. Steve told him that he seemed incapable of making up his mind, and that he needed to pick one person and make it work.

Well, he DID pick one person… but Natasha Romanov was already in a committed relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D…

Bucky had been trying to pry her away from the organization for years, so…

Under the advice of Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes decided to take a shot at having a relationship-based conversation with the Black Widow. The notion kinda frightened Bucky, and his gut was telling him that he was making a mistake. In his mind, he thought it was smarter to just let it all go, then go about his business as if his lecture from Steve never happened.

Natasha knew what was up as soon as she entered the apartment. Bucky didn't seem like himself, so a small smile emerged on her face as she walked into the living room. He was sitting on a small chair, so she sat down on his dark green sofa. The apartment barely had any furniture, and all the color disappeared after Donna Strange left.

She was the one that actually decorated the space, like a happy little Susie home-maker. Natasha thought of that as she glanced around the apartment. Bucky and Natasha were barely there, so why decorate? The concept seemed a bit silly, and juvenile, so Natasha tried to move past it in that moment. She waited for Bucky to get his thoughts together.

"Remember when you randomly asked me if I wanted to marry you someday, or have children with you in the future?"

Bucky just decided to start there. He already knew that Natasha was either testing him, or taunting him back when she initially brought up the subject. His guess was correct, but Natasha proceeded with caution. She loved Bucky Barnes for a number of reasons, and she never wanted to hurt him. Looking back, she knew that her choice of words hurt his soul, but she needed to hear his response.

"Yes. I remember."

She remembered his response as well. Bucky said yes to both of those questions, and she assumed he was there in that moment to ask if there had been any changes to her grand plan. Bucky wanted her to either stop working for S.H.I.E.L.D. or construct some sort of on-and-off rotation between them. Natasha took in a slow breath, because it was pretty easy for her to picture where the conversation was headed.

"I stop, when I'm dead."

Natasha truly meant the words she used in that moment. She decided to end the conversation before it could ever begin, because she didn't want the subject to build up anymore weight. Bucky looked a bit crushed after she spoke and he kept staring at one of the windows. She saw a flash of anger, then his face softened up after a bit.

He was more expressive than people knew. The Widow watched the flow of emotions as he processed her rejection. It was unspoken, but very clear at the same time. Bucky didn't know what to really think of it, but he understood that they were never going to be on the same page. Bucky started looking around for his black lighter, then he pawed at his jacket for a pack of cigarettes.

"Would you like me to leave?"

Natasha thought it was best to clarify that as well. Bucky was a talker when things were going his way, but the brunette had a bad habit of tuning out and going mute when he was upset. She didn't want that, so she baited for conversation. Bucky kept thinking about where his last pack of cigarettes ended up. He wondered if he left the pack at Tony and Steve's, or up on the roof.

Leave? He heard her question, so Bucky looked toward his right. Natasha barely had any belongings there to take. He figured she was talking about taking her stuff out of his apartment. She lived in New York as well, but she never stayed at her own place. No, the Black Widow was as minimal as a person could get. She had about a duffle bag's worth of stuff, so Bucky just shrugged his shoulders.

On that note, Natasha stood up from that dark green sofa. She stepped over toward Bucky Barnes and she looked down at his clothes. He was dressed comfortably and she thought he looked handsome. She didn't want to hurt him at all, but the truth had to come out. The Widow forced Bucky's face up. She madehim look up in her direction.

He looked very hurt and he tried to turn away. The Winter Soldier was far more fragile than people knew, so Natasha added a bit of warmth to her touch as she held his face.

Bucky was never able to resist the Widow, and he wasn't surprised at all when she lowered herself down to his level.
Their lips connected, and Bucky didn't stop her. He thought about it, because he knew it was over, but the man refused to let the facts sink in.

Chapter: END

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