Chapter Text
Hands moving on their own accord, heart hammering in your chest. You couldn’t breathe, everything happened too quickly.
All you could think about was keeping her safe.
She was too far for you to physically reach.
All you cared about was her.
You felt the energy coursing through your veins as a black razor-like string formed between your hands.
You heard the shot as it hit the pavement, along with the man’s head, which you had just sliced clean off his shoulders.
Dread filled your chest and air didn’t come fast enough to your lungs. Your hands trembled, and you felt cold sweat running down your back as memories of your past flashed through your mind. You shook your head and blinked several times.
“Natasha?” Your voice broke as you desperately called out to her.
The ringing was loud in her ears, the shot landed right beside her head. She saw the lifeless body beside her, missing a head. Shaking her head to recover from the punch she just took, she was up and running towards you in less than a second.
Your hands reached out for her. You saw droplets of blood on her face, thankfully, not hers.
“Are you okay?” You looked her over, your words coming out breathless. “Did he hurt you?” Bringing your hands up to her cheeks, you wiped away the blood. Your wide eyes roamed her features as if you couldn’t see enough of her, trying to prove to yourself that she was there.
“I’m okay. He didn’t hurt me.” She said the words calmly and clearly, although a little out of breath as well. You felt her hands wiping away lone tears that escaped your eyes.
Noticing your shaken-up state, she took one of your hands and placed it right above her heart, your palm against the warm skin of her chest. “Breathe, moya lyubov’.” She gently rested her forehead on yours.
Your eyes closed in pure relief. You could feel her heartbeat under your touch, steady and reassuring, you gulped down the last of your worries.
A slow clapping sound took you away from your moment, both your gazes turning toward it.
Derek clapped his hands one more time, a pleased smile on his face. His eyes moved down to the bloody corpse on the ground. “Didn’t know you still had it in you, guess all it takes for you to turn back to the old ways is a little motivation.”
You felt nausea building up on your stomach at the thought of this being his plan since he stepped out of the car. You noticed Natasha’s jaw setting as she lowered both your hands. Her look shifting to a murderous one, she took a step in front of you.
You squeezed her hand gently, holding her back. Your eyes met hers in a silent request. You walked forward, softly moving your fingers until the rest of the dark fog disappeared and a faint glow of sunlight shone down on your faces. “It’s over, Derek.”
You took a deep breath, seeing as his stance didn’t waver. As much as you disliked him, there wasn’t a way to erase the past. A part of you wanted to finish things peacefully, with him at least. “Just go, and save us both the trouble.”
He clicked his tongue. “Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.” He side-eyed Natasha, who hung back with her arms crossed, watching you both intently.
The ghost of a smirk came to your lips when you noticed him gulp and straighten his posture, quickly moving his eyes away from the redhead and back to you.
He focused on you, for the first time in a long time. “He’s not happy with your attitude, but wants to talk.”
You scoffed and looked aside. You ran a hand through your hair and looked back at him. “Talk? What, by sending seven armed men after me? That’s talking?”
With his teeth showing in a sly smile, he pushed one of your loose hairs behind your ear. The movement made you freeze and Natasha tense.
“Oh but we all knew you wouldn’t want to talk.” His fingers moved to your chin, forcing your face up to look at his eyes.
“I’m not the one who shot first.”
“Seven armed men..” He ignored your words. “And still not enough. Granted you had a little help, but it’s not like you needed it, did you?” His voice got lower as his face inched closer.
You felt a shiver coursing through your body, cold sweat forming on your forehead as your breathing became shallow and fast. You couldn’t move.
He smirked when he noticed your stress. “Don’t tell me you forgot about the good times. All those people, all those scores.” He glanced away from you as if remembering a treasured memory. “Such talent, such power and will to kill. All gone to waste.”
You could feel your eyes swimming with tears as countless memories flooded your mind. Lifeless bodies all around you as you cleared the area for a robbery, your power providing comfort and easiness for your team. The poor banker that was forced a slow death by your hands. The gold that was paid with blood, now staining mostly your hands. Except there was never a choice, every victim spared came back as a brand new scar for you to keep. Sometimes physical, other times worse.
“How are you still by his side? After all he’s done to us?” You rasped out, looking for answers you knew you wouldn’t find.
“You are the ungrateful one. We were the gods of the whole thieves guild and you threw it all away like a spoiled brat.” He spat back, grabbing a fistful of your shirt in anger.
“Do you really believe you can take it all back? You’re so deep in your own darkness you can’t even-” Derek’s speech was cut short as he was forcefully pulled away from you.
Natasha’s fist met his jawline hard, making him stumble to the ground and drop his gun. Her hand closed around his neck and pulled him back up roughly, knocking his air out in the process.
A pained grunt escaped his mouth as his back hit the door of one of the black SUVs. “Aren’t you feisty?” He chuckled.
Natasha gritted her teeth, her knuckles turning white around her gun before she smacked it against his forehead. Blood dripped from the wound immediately.
“If you ever want to come near her again, you’re gonna have to go through me. And it’s not gonna be pretty.” She raised an eyebrow at him. Daring, deep down wanting him to object.
He scoffed, blood mixing with his grin. Even he knew defeat when it slapped him in the face.
“We’ll meet again, sis.” Were his last words as he locked eyes with you, who came to stand protectively behind Natasha. His steps were hurried as he got inside one of the cars and drove away at full speed.
Your eyes moved to the ground, your mind feeling simultaneously blank and cluttered. You gripped at your hair as a mix between a sob and an exhale left you.
Warm hands grabbed onto your own and gently moved them down, making your eyes look up towards her. You bit your lip to keep tears at bay, closing your arms around her waist with a quick motion, your strong grip a tad away from bruising.
“It’s okay.” Her soft voice felt like music to your ears, relief filled your chest simply by hearing her talk and you buried your head on her shoulder.
Natasha glided her fingers through your hair in a soothing manner, supporting most of your weight on her arms. She lowered her head and kissed your neck. “It’s not true, what he said.”
She felt the warmth of your tears on her shoulder. “You’re the best person I’ve met. You’re good, believe me when I say it, okay? You’re not what they made you.” Natasha grasped the fabric of your shirt, feeling the truth of her own words on herself. She cradled your head and kissed your hair, she didn’t believe in perfect or destiny. Yet you were the closest thing she ever had to that.
“Thank you.” You whispered to her, closing your eyes and breathing her in.
“We make a good team.” She matched your quiet tone. You felt her smile against your skin.
You couldn’t help the teary chuckle that escaped you. “We do.” Your heart pulled you to her in a way you never experienced before. By chance of fate, you found the person who perhaps held the other piece of your soul.
After another forty minutes of driving, you were both finally entering the jet. Natasha briefly explained the setback and told them to take care of the mess. The rest of the ride was blissfully calm, with your head resting on her shoulder as you allowed your mind a much-needed break.
Natasha made a point of not letting go of your hand, not inside the jet and not when it landed. Maybe not long ago, she would be self-conscious about showing affection in public. Not with you.
Your steps down the ramp were careful, Natasha matched your pace. You took in your new surroundings in awe. The Avengers compound was much, much bigger than what you thought it would be. Huge grass plains surrounded the area, along with beautiful trees at the ends. The light grey building was massive, with the ‘A’ on the facade indicating its purpose.
Upon walking closer, you noticed a man was waiting for your arrival.
Natasha led you to stop in front of him, he extended his hand for you to shake with a faint smile. Natasha’s own hold on you was reassuring, you trusted her. You reached out your free hand and shook his, with a small smile of your own.
“Hello Y/N, I’m Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D. It’s an honor to finally meet you.”
You chuckled nervously under his attention, feeling a sudden urge to meet whatever expectations he had for you. “It’s an honor to be here.”
“Agent Romanoff briefly told me what you both went through, I’m glad to see you’re alright.” His eyes moved between you and Natasha curiously.
“Yeah it’s- it’s been a wild few days.” You gave him a tight-lipped smile.
A moment passed before he spoke again, this time, with his attention directed to Natasha. “Can I have a moment with her, Romanoff? I won’t take long.”
Natasha raised an unamused eyebrow to his teasing tone, which went unnoticed by you. She took your backpack from you and gave your shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll be waiting for you in the living room.”
You panicked and opened your mouth to tell her you had no idea where the living room was, but she was already walking away. Leaving you to breathe out a quiet; “alright.”
“Walk with me?” With one hand behind his back, Fury motioned toward glass doors that lead in the opposite direction. You gave him a short nod.
He led you through what looked like the office and working halls of the building. Glass windows and white walls were around you as people in suits passed by without sparing you more than a few curious glances. All the while you fell into a mostly comfortable discussion about you, your past, your mom, and your future here.
When you reached a nice-looking office room, he opened the door and told you to take a seat. “I have something that might help your mind settle.” He started rummaging through one drawer, eventually pulling out a rather big folder.
“Your mother was one of my best agents. One of the most honorable people I knew.” He pushed the folder towards you.
You fidgeted on your seat, looking down at your mother’s name on the brown paper. You hesitated to touch it.
Fury twirled an aged picture between his fingers. “These are all her records from her years here. I figured they could help you feel closer to her, see the good she’s done…”
He had a small smile as he glanced at the picture in his hands before handing it to you. “And maybe, if we’re lucky, they’ll help you in your way to continuing her legacy.”
Your shaky fingers closed around the polaroid picture. Tears sprung to your eyes as they met the ones of your mother, younger, with a baby in her arms. Her smile was wide and it reminded you of your own.
You held tightly onto the brown folder as Fury led you to the living quarters. You bid him goodbye and slowly walked inside, feeling small while standing alone inside the big and luxurious room.
The soft padding of socks on the floor caught your attention and your smile was a fond one when you met her eyes. You felt your cheeks warm up as you met her halfway.
Natasha extended her hand, her fingers timidly grazing the back of your hand. “I’m glad to see he didn’t scare you away.”
You gripped her hand fully, shaking your head as your eyes glanced down.
“Come on, I’ll show you your room.” She tugged at your hand and guided you through the living room, briefly telling you where the kitchen, bathrooms, and gym were situated.
She led you to what you assumed were everyone’s sleeping quarters, opening the door to a spacious room with minimal decorations inside, just waiting for someone to add personality to it.
“My room is right there.” You followed her eyes to a door on the opposite side of yours, a faint smile playing on both your lips as you knew you would spend more time in her room than yours.
You kept your fingers hooked around hers as you took tentative steps inside your new home, looking around, taking everything in. You carefully placed the folder atop your bed, before turning around to face Natasha.
Her eyes were expectant, you noticed she was biting the inside of her cheek.
“I like it.” Your tone was quiet, she was close enough to hear.
“You can stay with me until you feel comfortable here, and you don’t need to meet the team before you’re ready to, they can be obnoxious sometimes.” Natasha’s words came tumbling out of her mouth, her fingers playing with yours. A small, nervous smile appeared on her lips.
You chuckled at how cute she could be sometimes. You separated your hands from hers, making her heart leap and settle right after, when you cupped her cheeks tenderly. “I’ll be fine, Nat. Might take a while, but I’ll adjust, don’t worry.”
She leaned into your palm, her hands closing around your waist and pulling you close. “I just want you to feel as good as I did back at the cabin.” Her shy confession was just a breath of words against your lips, they warmed your heart.
She bit her lip, green eyes boring into yours. “And I want you to stay.” Her eyes held sincere emotions. Her heart was stripped bare for you only.
Your fingers traced the outline of her cheekbones as you took your time to carve her image into your brain forever. You leaned in and nuzzled her nose with yours, moving your hands to the back of her head and tangling them between her red locks.
You kissed her, molding words into action to tell her how much you came to love her. How you could never regret choosing her. And how much you were grateful to be in that gallery on that night.
Natasha's lips hovered over yours with a smile, her touch gently moving along your back. “Help me with dinner?”
You bit your lip to contain your happiness. “Gladly, but first, I’m in dire need of a shower.”
With your hands on her jaw, you pulled her in for a deeper kiss, slipping your tongue into her mouth for a brief second. Her whine of protest made you giggle when you pulled away too soon for her liking.
“And you’re coming with me.” Your sultry words took hers away and you intertwined your fingers with hers to pull her towards the bathroom.
Her skin was heavenly beneath your touch. She was your fortunate stroke of serendipity, and you told her you loved her for the first time amidst the hot water and shower steam, watching as her eyes glistened when she kissed you, whispering the same words over and over against your lips.
THE END, for now.