The Witch He Loved

Chapter 17

The problem with living around so many people is it gets harder to have a quiet moment alone. Between Thor's constant shouts, Tony's constant blaring music and there is always some wort of alarm going off somewhere, distractions aren't exactly hard to come by. 

But I have my own little slice of quiet, granted its at sunrise when most are asleep but it's heaven, watching the sun rise and glint of the lake most morning helps me stay sane, although this morning it doesn't seem to help clear my head. 

I know he's watching me right now, he's been watching me since I fought Bucky last week. He's been out here with me every morning since, hasn't come near me or bothered me, just watched. I can feel him nearby but I don't look for him, I just continue watching the sun rise, pleading ignorance to the situation I'm in.

What situation? Maybe the one where I have Loki waiting for me to take him back or the one where it feels like Bucky is after me now too. 

Shaking my head I stop my mind from wandering and focus on the sun rise once more. I missed my favourite part, when sun first touches the horizon. I drop my head onto my knees, defeated. Life was easier on my own, quieter. 

I feel a weight drop around my shoulders, lifting my head slightly I see it's a blanket and then I see Nat drop down next to me. 

"Feeling sorry for yourself?" She speaks in a hushed tone.

I snort at her and look forward. "How did you guess?"

She ignores my question and tells me why she's come here. "I've got a mission, undercover. Could take some time." 

"What's the estimate?"

"8 weeks."

I look at her. Silence stretches between us. We both know it'll be longer, undercovers always are. My chest tightens, I don't want her to go right now but I know she has to. Orders are orders. 

"Who's going to bring me my blankets every other morning, you know how forgetful I am" I emphasise the point by tugging the blanket around me tighter, I never really noticed how cold I was before it. Summer was truly leaving us. 

A smile tugs at her lips but she tries not to let it show. "I'm sure one of the men following you around could help you out." 

"One of? You mean they both are now?" A frown takes over my face.

She nods at me, the smile now showing. "Loki is in the treeline back that way, Bucky is jogging back and forth at the entrance" 

I shift my eyes past her without moving my head and sure enough, there he is. Jogging back and forth, keeping his head turned towards me. 

A groan escapes my lips and I drop my head into my hands. 

Nat lets out a short laugh "You've got yourself into a bit of a mess here." 

"No shit" I mumble, moving my hands to rub my temples.

She checks her watch and the smile falls away, the seriousness masking her eyes. 

"You have to leave now don't you?" 

She nods and we both stand up and embrace. The moment of enjoying your torment gone and you both feel the sorrow of saying goodbye. 

"Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone" She lets go and we both take a step apart. 

Smirking at her I shrug. "But anything else would be boring Nat" 

She rolls her eyes and starts to walk away. When she's a few meters away I call out to her again. 

"Stay safe out there"