The Prisoner | Natasha x OC

Chapter Thirty-One

"To have someone understand your mind is a different kind of intimacy."
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Moving at a quick pace, Natasha's heels sounded against her bedroom floor. In her haste, her hand connected with her leg and sent her phone skittering across the carpet. Cursing lowly Nat went to retrieve it but on the way down the strap of her handbag slid off her arm, and of course, when she'd grabbed her phone and stood to correct it, it had fallen off entirely. And as it was still open... sent her belongings sliding across her floor.

"For fuck sake!"
She'd only just picked up her bag when it was thrown back to the floor, this time intentionally. Nat sat on her bed, head in hands. The past three days had been from hell itself. There'd been argument after argument before the team decided to make it every man for himself. You sign or you don't. And you deal with the consequences of your choice on your own.

Her family was falling apart and after the accords, a few of them wouldn't even technically be her family anymore. But more than that, her favourite person was one of them.

She'd tried, God, she'd tried. But Natara wasn't budging. Nat had begged her to reconsider but Natara would just try to get her to do the same.

The blonde had been angry when they first spoke, refusing to look her in the eye. But Nat had eventually realized she was hurt, and worried.
She'd asked Natara, on the second day after Ross, why it was so important to her... not signing. To let her in. But of course she'd refused and they'd been left at impasse.

Taking a breath and gathering her things, Nat exited her room.

And came face to face with Natara.

Immediately her chest tightened. She looked exhausted and her eyes were weary.

"I don't want to fight," Natara whispered. There was nothing more to be done now anyway. "I just wanted to say goodbye and wish you a safe flight."

Natasha's expression fell. A part of her had hoped when she'd seen her. Desperately hoped she'd changed her mind. But then she remembered the packed bags she'd seen when she'd entered Natara's room last night. 
And that hope turned to ash once more.
"Will you be here when I get back?"
Say yes.

She kept her eyes away from Natara's, not knowing what her answer would be.

"Probably."

Unable to help it, their eyes met. "Probably?" Anger, fear, desperation. All of it appeared at once. "You'd leave, just like that?"

Natara's expression turned pleading but it just made her feel worse.

"I might be forced to. None of us know-"

"Not until I get back." Looking at her, the redheads gaze was firm, leaving no space for argument. But Natara's uncertainty was still there and it allowed sadness to creep in. "Please. Don't do what you did last time."

Natara looked away as if she'd been insulted, eyes filled with hurt and guilt. "I won't." She felt Nat grasp her hand, looking back in surprise. She understood the silent request. "I promise." Her voice was a breathy whisper, both of them hearing the emptiness in it but choosing to ignore it, at least for now.

"Then I'll see you soon." She tried a smile but it feel quickly at the pain in Natara's eyes. Nat wished more than anything that none of this was happening. And she took the both of them by surprise by reaching out and putting her hand on the other woman's check, feeling her freeze up.

With a sad smile she leant forward and allowed her lips to make contact with Tara's cheek.
So close to the place she'd imagined kissing since day one. Her lips lingered and when she pulled back Natara's hand tightened around her own. Natasha could swear she heard the both of their hearts break.