Unexpected Romance

Chapter 13

Natasha:
I wake before Val, I don't even remember going to bed last night. We were up late talking and just loving each other. Everything between us feels happier now that we finally said it. I truly feel lucky to have her. She has yet to tell me what she was talking about when we first got to her room. It almost sounded like she wanted to break up but clearly, that wasn't the case, thank goodness.

-

"Hey, babe," Val starts as she's taking off her shirt to change for the day. "I'm tired of hiding us from the crew. I already accidentally told Clint. It's been so hard to act like we're just friends."

"Yeah, you're right. I think it's time we tell them. I'll finally be able to kiss my girlfriend in public."

We make our way to the meeting room, where we called the team so we can announce it. We greet everyone and take a set right next to each other, extra close to make it more obvious.

"So what's going on guys?" Thor asks us.

"So we could totally tell you straight up but I think it would be more fun if we just showed you," I say to them, causing everyone's faces to look confused.

I stand up, bringing Val up with me. I turn us so we're facing each other. I take one last look at the crew, who all still look extremely confused. I grab Val's waist and she puts her hands on the back of my neck. I pull her into me and kiss her passionately. I almost start to make out with her, slightly forgetting our whole team is watching us. I very slowly pull away from her and turn to see everyone's faces. They all look shocked, all but Clint because he already knew, thanks to Val. It takes a moment for anyone to say anything so I break the silence.

"If you couldn't catch on, we're dating." I smile at Val.

"Well if you guys are just going to sit there in shock, Nat and I have some... activities.. we need to do." This puts even more shock on their faces and I can't help but laugh.

Val takes my hand and quickly pulls me out of the room and straight into mine.

"God, that felt so good," she says to me, dragging me to the foot of my bed.

She gets herself against the wall and pulls me into her body. I agree, it feels so good to tell everyone. I put my hands on her face, hers on my hips, and she kisses me. We make out against the wall for a while.

-

Val's phone starts ringing, scaring us awake. Somehow we fell asleep for a bit. She picks up the call.

"Hello?"

I don't know who called or what they're saying.

"Now?... Okay... Okay, I understand... I'm on my way."

She hangs up the phone and climbs out of my bed.

"Babe, what's going on?" I ask her.

"Nothing, I'll be right back. Stay here. We can cuddle when I get back, I'll try to be quick." She gives me a quick kiss and rushes out of my room.

Valerie:
Nick Fury calls me to tell me he needs me in his office immediately. When I get there, I see Fury, Tony, Bruce, and Steve all waiting for me.

"Ah, Valerie. Glad you could make it."

"Of course. So what's up? What was so urgent?"

They all look at each other then back at me.

Cap starts off by saying, "You need to keep this hidden from everyone. Even Natasha."

"What? Hide what?"

"We can't tell you too much yet except there's some extremely dangerous technology being created by Hydra not too far from Manhatten. It is urgent we get this under control as soon as possible. If we don't, the whole city, state, country even, is at risk." As he explains this, Tony asks his UI, FRIDAY, to bring up blueprints, pictures, and other data on a screen.

"We would send the whole team but we ran the numbers and it's too risky... With extremely careful consideration, we have chosen one member to break into the lab where this technology is being held, retrieve it, and bring it back to us." They all look at each other again.

"We chose you, Valerie. Can you do it?" Bruce says.

"I know this is a big ask and we have some time so we're happy to give you a bit to think it over. But please, keep this between us. No one else can know yet," Fury finally says to me.

I tell them I'll think it over and get back to them soon. I leave the office to go back to Natasha.

Natasha:
My door slowly opens and my girlfriend walks in. She closes and locks the door behind her. I sit up from laying down. She sits on my bed in front of me. She looks all shaken up.

"Hey bubs. What's going on? Where'd you go?"

"It's nothing, don't worry."

She avoids my eyes.

"Okay, clearly it's not 'nothing'. Seriously Val, what just happened? You can talk to me."

She finally makes eye contact. Her eyes are glossy, she's about to cry.

"Oh, baby," I say, bringing her into a hug.

She starts crying lightly into my neck. I run my fingers through her hair and rub her back in an attempt to calm her. She's silent for a while, even when she stops crying.

"Why is this so hard?" She whispers softly.

"Why is what so hard?"

"Being an Avenger?"

"I-I don't know. I guess saving the world can be tricky," I say, making her giggle a little.

I smile and kiss her head.

-One week later-

Valerie:
The hardest decision I made was today, going to Fury, accepting the secret solo mission.

"When do I need to leave?" I hesitantly ask Nick.

"Two days."

I take a deep breath and leave his office.

I make it to the kitchen and open the cabinet to find some alcohol. I pour myself a glass of whiskey and bring the bottle and glass to the balcony to drink. Fuck. Two days is not long. Two days to prepare myself to potentially say goodbye to Natasha for good. I'm trying not to think like this but it's so hard not to. I'm going alone to a very dangerous facility to retrieve very dangerous technology. What could go wrong?

I'm pouring myself my fourth glass of whiskey when I hear the sliding glass doors to the balcony open.

"Hey, kid." I turn to see Tony standing behind me, holding an empty glass.

"Pour me some?" He holds out his glass and I fill it until he waves his hand, telling me to stop.

"Tony, am I going to die on this mission?" I can't help but ask.

"I can't answer that, Valerie."

"Should I say goodbye to Nat? You can be honest. If I'm going to die, I won't back down. I'll die for this team. For Natasha."

He just looks at me with sad eyes.

"Okay."