Long Time No See • Natasha Romanoff

Part 30: Oh no.

Natasha's phone vibrated in her hand. She never reacted so quickly to something in her life. He brought the device to her face and saw the picture saved on her phone.

They were at a water park and Anya was stood next to a tiger. It was way bigger than her but she was beaming with joy. She'd never been so they decided it would be a good date.

She pressed the green button on the screen. The happiness she felt by looking at the picture dissipated and anger rose inside her.

"Kozlova! If T'Challa doesn't kill you I will! Where are you?!" She said in her frustrated voice.

"Nat...I'm scared." She was crying and was clearly distraught from the ordeal. Her anger turned to love and guilt. She was angry and cross with her and she was crying. She was scared she could lose everything she cared about and all Natasha could think about was being irate with her.

"Hey, hey. It's ok. I need you to tell me where you are." She lowered her tone and tried reassuring her girlfriend it would all be fine in the end.

"Nat I didn't do it. I'm being set up."

"I know you didn't do it but they don't know that. If you come clean I'm sure they...." Anya cut her off before she could finish her sentence.

"You know I didn't do it but they don't. I can't trust them to do the right thing. Someone had just been killed and they want to pin it on anyone they can."

"It doesn't help if you run. Imagine how that looks." She was empathetic and kind but she knew it wasn't that simple. Anya was right. But what else's could they do?

There was moment of silence over the phone while Anya decided what to do.

"Ok. But this isn't going to end well for us you know." Anya was being pessimistic. And she had every right to be.

"Hey! Don't do that! Don't say things like that! I will fight till my final breath to be with you."
Nat also found tears in her eyes, because Anya had a point.

"I'll come back to the UN building." She said dejectedly.

"Ok" was all Natasha could think to reply.

"And Nat?"

"Yes, baby?"

"I love you."

"I love you too." They spoke like it was the end. And it honestly could be. Nat hung up the phone and the tears finally came out. Her heart ached. If only they knew Anya like she knew Anya it would all be ok.

~~~

Cap walked into a coffee shop on his casual disguise. It was just a plain outfit with a jacket, a cap, and some sunglasses. In the shop was Wilson.

He was sat at a high table with a cup of something. He was stirring it with a spoon. The two didn't make eye contact but they knew it was one another.

"Might want to stay out of this." Wilson said.

"He'd do it for me." They were discussing the best way to go after Bucky. Not to bring him in but to keep him safe, away from the government. The opposite to Anya.

"1945, maybe. I just want to make sure we consider all our options. The people who shoot at you, usually wind up shooting me."

Just as he finished Sharon walked up before Steve and rested her arms on the table.

"Tips have been pouring in since that footage went public. Everybody thinks the Winter Soldier goes to their gym. Most of its noise. Except for this." She slid a brown envelope across the table to Steve.