Xoxo - y/n Carter

9. Not the same

Natasha pov

'Natasha and i aren't the only ones to get a text from y/f/l, are we?' Wanda's voice says in my head. Both Tony and Bucky shake their heads. Steve and Clint both look so confused by what's happening. Probably because they haven't gotten the same text, and the fact that we're talking in our heads.

"Okay...what's going on?" Steve asks, cutting off the suspense they must have had.

"Nothing much, but i have to get back down to the workshop so i'll see you all tomorrow" Tony answers before we get the chance.

"And i need to get some sleep, it was a long ride here" Bucky agrees as they both stand up. Men and their ignorant ways to deal with things.

'So we're gonna ignore the fact that someone with the same initial as her is messaging us with information only she knows?' she says in all our heads again.

"Get out of my head Wanda, it's nothing" Tony says angry, making me wonder what this person has been saying to him. But she stays quiet and he walks away. Bucky also sneaks away from the scene but upstairs to the bedrooms.

"What the hell was that about" Clint asks in confusion and i can't really blame him. But we can't go around and say that you are texting us from the grave, they would think we're crazy even if we're four people who are involved.

"I'll go see if Peter needs some help" Wanda says, leaving me alone with the two men who aren't involved.

"Nat?" they both ask in union.

"It's nothing really, nothing... i'll go see it Pepper needs some help in the kitchen" i say as i also get up. Steve looks at me surprised but Clint isn't, i've been the one to help Laura in the kitchen the last nine months since Yelena almost burned down the kitchen at first and Clint managed to burn pasta. I don't even know how. But i make my way into the kitchen to find it just like when we put the dishes away thirty minutes ago. I see Pepper standing by the window, looking out to the sunset by the lake. She hasn't noticed i'm in the room as i walk up to her.

"Pepper? Everything okay?" i ask worriedly and she jumps to my words, quickly wiping tears off her face before turning to me.

"Yeah, i'm fine" she answers with a small smile that anyone could see right through.

"No your not, but you know it's okay to not be okay right?" i say and she lets out a small laugh as that was something you would have said, actually it is something you've said.

"I know, but i need to keep it together for Tony, he's just been different... distant" she says, leaning back onto the countertop.

"Well it's not weird, it's only been a year..."

"No it's not that, i mean it is that but at the same time not. It's hard to explain but it all started when he found those blueprints of hers. He's been down there for months now, refuses to actually come up and eat, sleep or just talk. But when he does come up it's just to get something for a second and then he goes down again" i've placed my hand on her arm during her explanation. First i thought she meant now, when the texts started. That maybe he's gotten them for a while now.

"He's trying to keep onto her, it's just like Wanda and Maria. All y/n wanted to was travel the world, they did that for her to keep her with them. I replaced that empty space with my sister to not break apart" i say and theres tears in her eyes again. So i take a deep breath before i say. "Maybe we should help him with whatever he's doing, i mean there is one person who would be able to read her prints"

"I'm not so sure Tony would like to be locked in a room with the man who killed his parents, she was the only reason he got to stay, only reason he's still here too. Y/n took away the winter soldier part of him, or else he would still be locked up"

"I know, but if it would help Tony i think he'll agree to it. Maybe they'll even become closer to friends"

"Well i'm not risking it" she says decisively but i know i won't need much persuasion to get her to cave, she loves him all too much.

"Then i'll do it, i won't even mention you and you'll be like a secret partner" i say with a smile and she mirrors it.

"If this goes south i'm not the one to blame"

"I'll take full responsibility for our actions, but i have a feeling it'll work. Because what does he care more about than his hate for him?"

"Y/n..." she answers with a sign and i have a victory smile on my lips.

"You'll have him back in no time, i promise" or at least to the person he can be by moving on. She nods so i add the question i came here in the first place to ask. "Can i help with the dishes?"

"Sure" but just as we're about to start i get a text that makes my smile drop.

Unknown
Great plan, get the man who murdered his parents to work with him to keep me here. I'm rooting for you, i really am.
- y/f/l

I stare at the text in confusion. How could this person know a conversation i just had, it's gotta be someone in the house, i mean who else could it have been. But who would put us through that? Who would have such a dark heart to pull off a joke like this.

"My time to ask, are you okay?" she asks as i've just stood there and looked at my phone. She tries to lean over and look at it but i put it back in my pocket.

"Yeah, i was just thinking about my master plan" i say with a smile again before starting with the dishes, trying to get my mind off it for a while. Not that it's working.

From Clint
I'm going home now, Nathaniel has managed to infect both Laura and Yelena with the floo. I'll call you later