True Love Never Runs Smooth (Natasha Romanoff)

Chapter 11

Tw: abuse

The first time Luke hit me was a month after the party. We had been dating for about two weeks. One night I came over late after a mission and he said it shouldn't have lasted that long and then accused me of cheating. I should have left him the moment he laid a hand on me but when he told me he loved me after, I didn't want to leave. It was the first time someone had ever said that to me. I told him I loved him back even though I didn't really. I just loved the idea of being in love with him. The day after he hit me, he took me on a very expensive date as an apology. Then the next day, I walked into the tower and Wanda was the first to ask what happened to my eye. Natasha was observing me with a very intense gaze. I just blamed it on the mission and went to my room.

"What really happened to your eye?"

Great, Natasha followed me to my room.

"I already told you."

"I saw you after the mission, you didn't have a mark on your face."

She started walking further into my room and her eyes were stuck on my bruised one.

"It's just one of those bruises that develop later on."

"Bull shit, a bruise like that does not just come later. So I'm going to ask again, what happened to your eye?"

"Damn it, Natasha, just drop it."

That was the first time in a while that I have called her by her first name.

"I'm not dropping it. Just tell me."

"Stop being so fucking nosey and just leave. I don't need help, especially from you."

Natasha just scoffed and left, slamming my door behind her.

The hitting got worse over the weeks but he became smart, never hitting my face. I just felt so stuck and I didn't know what to do. I should've accepted Natasha's help. I know she knows something is up but we haven't talked since our argument. I can tell other people are getting worried. I haven't been around much. I'm either crying in my room or passed out on Luke's floor from too much pain. Wanda invited me to go out with her and Bucky. Just like old times, no boyfriends. It was the most fun I have had in a while and it was nice catching up with them. I could still see in their eyes how worried they were.

I lost track of time until my phone started blowing up. I checked it and it was Luke telling me to get home.

"Sorry guys but I have to go."

"Nooo stay."

"Sorry Wands but I have to go."

I gave Bucky a hug and then Wanda one but she squeezed a little too hard, causing me to wince. She gave me a confused look but I quickly left.

Right when I got to Luke's place, something felt off. It was dark and quiet. Then a light in the living room turned on. Luke was sitting in his chair with a drink in hand.

"Where the fuck have you been."

"I told you, I was getting drinks with Wanda and Bucky."

"Fucking liar."

By now Luke was out of his chair and in front of my face, you could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"I'm not."

After those two words left my mouth, something strong hit my face and knocked me to the ground. He then started to repeatedly punch and kick me. All I could do was curl up and protect my head. I could feel the blood dripping down my face and soon my eyes were getting heavy.

When I woke up, it had been an hour since I got to his house. Luke was nowhere in sight, so I decided to go back to the compound.

Once I was in the compound, I could tell someone on the floor was still awake because the hallway light was still on. When I opened my door, my eyes met with green ones. Damn, she is persistent. Her eyes immediately softened when she saw me. I'm sure I was a sight, I could feel the dried blood and bruises on my face. My eyes were also glazed over as I was on the verge of breaking down.

All Natasha did was grab my hand and lead me to my bathroom. When we were in there, Natasha pulled my body into hers. Her hands wrapped around my waist and I let her scent overtake my senses, calming me down. She then slid her hands down to my thighs and easily picked me up. She then sat me down on the counter and stood in between my legs. One hand settled on my hip as the other came to cup my cheek. The whole time, Natasha and I never broke eye contact until the hand on my hip slowly started pulling my shirt up but stopped when a slight whimper escaped my lips.

"Please let me see," Natasha said as she rested her forehead against mine.

I gave her a slight nod and she started to slowly take off my shirt. When my shirt was fully off, she took her head off mine to get a look. She took a sharp intake of air when she saw my bruises, some old and some new. She then looked to my lip and took her thumb and wiped off the blood. Her eyes then drifted back to mine. They were hot with rage and her jaw was clenched to where you could see the muscle in her face. For once I could easily read her and she was furious.

"Who did this to you?" She asked through gritted teeth.

I just shook my head as tears started to fill my eyes, making me look down. She then took two fingers and softly forced my chin up, making me look at her.

"Angel, I need you to tell me who."

"You already know Natasha."

"I'm going to fucking kill him."

She then started to angrily stride out of my bathroom and into my room but before she could make it out, I grabbed her wrist.

"Please don't. Just stay with me. I- I don't want to be alone." I couldn't help when my voice cracked or when the tears started to roll down my face.

Her eyes immediately softened and she pulled me into her. I started to cry harder, to the point I was struggling to breathe. Natasha started to play with my hair as she shushed me.

"Baby you need to breathe, you're making yourself sick. Just follow my breathing and listen to my heartbeat."

I listened to what she said and tried to match her breathing. It took a while but I was able to calm down, being left with the hiccups. Natasha then picked me up again causing my legs to wrap around her. She then walked over to my bed and put me under the covers.

"Please stay."

"I wasn't planning on leaving."

She then got under the covers beside me and pulled me into her. I put my head on her chest and entangled our legs. She started to run her hands through my hair and would sometimes lightly scratch my scalp.

"Get some sleep love."

I let my eyes close as I was listening to her heartbeat.