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Natasha hadn’t been to Madripoor in a very long time, but quickly noted that even after all these years it had not changed a bit. She was met with loud noises as she made her way down the streets to the art gallery. Sharon’s art gallery. The thought of seeing Sharon again made Natasha’s heart beat faster. They hadn’t spoken since they’d both gone their separate ways running from the US government. For years, Natasha had dreamed about the moment that she’d get to see Sharon again. After everything that had happened, after Yelena…She had to bring Sharon home and she knew that if she failed, it would break her heart once again.
A few days after the Blip, Ana had contacted Natasha and told her about Yelena’s disappearance. Natasha had thanked her for coming and showed her out.
Once Ana was gone, she had closed the door behind her, dropped to the ground and cried until she couldn’t anymore. Her little sister was gone forever and it was all Natasha’s fault.
She tried to cope with the loss the only way she knew how, by focussing her mind on something else. Sharon’s whereabouts were still unknown and so that is what Natasha focussed on: Finding Sharon and bringing her home. It was the thought of getting to hold Sharon in her arms once again that got Natasha through the time that followed. Her efforts appeared to be in vain, however, and even nearly five years later there was still no trace of the former Agent 13.
Natasha had all but given up her search when finally something showed up on her radar. It was just a case of art theft, a secret gallery in Madripoor selling stolen pieces, but Natasha looked into it anyway.
She’d stopped breathing for a second when months later she’d finally gotten the confirmation that Sharon was alive. For the first time in years, Natasha felt hopeful again. Yes, Sharon had resorted to a life of crime, but that was understandable, forgivable. Besides, it were the Avengers’ actions that had gotten Sharon into this mess in the first place. Natasha decided there and then that she would do everything in her power to bring her friend home and make things right.
Now that she was finally here though, she started having second thoughts. Would Sharon still want to see her after all these years? Would she blame Natasha for everything that had happened? Or would she be happy to see her dear old friend? Would she want to come home at all?
A thought appeared in Natasha’s mind, of Sharon sitting right next to her on a plane back to the United States. Her head was resting on Natasha’s shoulder and the two of them were laughing, like they used to do. She knew it was just a fantasy, but it gave Natasha the final push to step inside.
Sharon wasn’t expecting her. Natasha had used the false identity of a wealthy French woman to arrange a meeting to buy some priceless art piece.
She was approached by a woman in her twenties wearing a dark gray pantsuit. Sharon’s assistant, Natasha assumed.
“Catharina Dubois? Miss Carter is waiting for you,” the girl said curtly. Natasha nodded and followed her through the hallway. The woman opened a door for her but didn’t walk through herself.
This was obviously the guest room. There were beautiful paintings hanging on the walls and there was a sitting area with a comfortable, but expensive looking couch. On the table stood two empty glasses together with a bottle of Merlot, Catharina Dubois’ favorite wine.
Sharon did her research, Natasha thought. She wasn’t surprised; that woman always came prepared.
As if on queue, Sharon Carter entered the room from a backdoor, politely smiling at the person she thought was a client. “Miss Dubois, it’s such a pleasure to meet you,” she said, shaking Natasha’s hand. “I’ve heard many things about you.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Natasha answered, in a flawless French accent. “I’ve been told that your gallery is the finest there is. And if I may, so are you, it seems.” It was true; Sharon looked just as beautiful as Natasha remembered her.
Sharon chuckled and Natasha felt the sudden urge to find the real Catharina Dubois and punch her in the face. She wasn’t even Sharon’s type; Sharon didn’t like blondes.
“What you heard is true. All of my pieces are real. You ask for it, I’ll make it happen. For a price, of course.”
“Of course,” Natasha repeated, forcing a smile on her face. “Which is exactly why I’m here. To make you an offer that you just can’t refuse.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Which is what, exactly, Miss Dubois?”
Natasha sighed as she removed her wig and photostatic veil. “You’re seriously making me do the reveal all on my own? You truly are no fun, Carter.”
Sharon chuckled although it sounded more like a scoff. “How was I supposed to know that it was you? Aren’t you the world’s greatest spy?”
Natasha smirked. “Catharina Dubois is engaged. To a man. You really should have known that ,” she teased. Of course, Sharon knew that. The guy was the epitome of shady and it made way more sense to think Catharina would cheat on him.
Sharon rolled her eyes. “So now that we’re officially not playing that game, why don’t you tell me what you’re doing here,” she demanded. She sat herself down on the couch and motioned for Natasha to do the same.
She obeyed, but not before pouring two glasses of Merlot and handing one to Sharon.
“You could’ve at least served my favorite drink,” she joked, before taking a sip of her wine.
“I would have if I had known you were coming. That is what you get for pretending to be French. Cute accent, by the way. Very believable.” They both laughed and Natasha felt a weight lift off her shoulders.
The two of them were talking like the old friends that they were, which meant that Sharon didn’t hate her or blame her. If she did, she would’ve let Natasha know, like she always did when she was angry. Not in words, but there was a specific type of coldness to Sharon when she was mad at you, and Natasha had grown well-acquainted with it over the years. It made Natasha wonder why they were still friends, sometimes, but in her heart she knew she never wanted to lose Sharon.
“Come back home with me.” She tried to make it sound like an offer, but it came out more like a plea.
“You know I can’t do that. Even if I wanted to, I’m still a criminal in the United States.” Sharon paused. “Unlike you apparently, and Steve,” she added.
“I can get you a pardon. I know I can, just give me time. I would have done it already if I knew you were alive, which I didn’t. And then I wanted to come see you first, because…” Natasha searched for the right words. Because I miss you , she wanted to say. Because you mean more to me than you even realize. “Because I didn’t want you to think I’d forgotten about you.”
“You know, I didn’t think that you’d forgotten about me. No, I thought that it must have been too dangerous for you to try and find me or that maybe you had turned yourself in out of some sense of nobility.” Sharon chuckled. “I waited for you, Natasha. For two years, I waited for you and you didn’t come. And then the Blip happened and I thought that either you were gone or you would try to find me at last, but you didn’t. Why didn’t you?”
Natasha looked down at her glass. “I am here now, aren’t I?”
“That’s not what I asked,” Sharon shot back.
Natasha opened her mouth to speak but then closed it again. She wanted to tell Sharon the truth, but she wasn’t sure if her friend was ready to hear it. She wasn’t even sure if she was ready to hear herself say it.
“Natasha, I really thought I meant something to you.”
“You do.” Natasha took a deep breath. “Sharon, you mean everything to me.” She studied Sharon’s face, gauging her reaction. Sharon made a choking sound, a strangled sob left her throat.
“Oh,” she whispered. “Natasha, I…I’m not who I used to be.”
“I know.” She did know. When Natasha found out that Sharon was the Power Broker, she was devastated. It had felt like a betrayal at first. But she understood now that it was who Sharon had to become to survive and Natasha couldn’t blame her for that.
“I know what you did. I know that you’re the Power Broker. I know everything and I don’t care.” She could only hope that Sharon would believe her. She took her friend’s hand in her own.
“If you know about everything then you know I can’t go back.”
“No one else has to know. I can get rid of all the evidence. I can-” She got cut off by Sharon, who leaned forward and kissed her. Eagerly, Natasha kissed her back. She kissed Sharon like it was the last thing she would ever do, like the world would end if she stopped. She pushed her lover back against the couch and her leg over Sharon’s lap, straddling her. Her hands were tangled in blonde locks, while Sharon’s were fervently opening the buttons on Natasha’s blouse. She kissed her way down Natasha’s neck, causing a soft moan to escape the Avenger’s lips.
“Don’t stop,” Natasha breathed. “Don’t let go of me.”
Sharon obeyed.
They held each other for what felt like hours, with passionate kisses and dirty whispers. Their clothes were scattered across the floor, along with the couch pillows. Natasha was resting her head on Sharon’s chest, arms wrapped around her waist.
“Come home with me,” she murmured softly against her lover’s skin. “I’ll make sure everything turns out okay. I promise.”
Sharon sighed. “I guess you leave me no choice, Romanoff. I have to take you up on your offer. I’ll go back. But not today. You get me my pardon and I’ll come home.”
Natasha laughed, holding back tears of joy. She had Sharon back and maybe, just maybe, that meant she could be happy again.