Day 12: Natasha gets bad news

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Natasha and Bruce were having a good time in the lab, redesigning her suit.

Suddenly, the glass doors rattled and Tony came barrelling through, making a mess everywhere. "Pep called in sick!" he shrieked. "I have no one to bring to the charity thing tonight!"

Natasha looked at Tony's display amusedly. "And why does that concern us, Stark?"

"I'm here to collect on your debt!" the billionaire declared. "You owe me, Romanoff. You're also still my employee."

Nat raised an eyebrow. "This wasn't in the job description. Are you sure you need a plus-one?" she asked. "I'm sure you can—"

"— I need you!" Tony wailed.

"What happened to 'I don't give a shit about the media', Tones?" Bruce asked from beside her.

Tony sighed. "Please, Natty?" he asked. "I'll give you a house."

Natasha shook her head, smiling. "Depends on the kind of house, Stark," she mused. "Beachside? Not so much. Somewhere remote on a big forested island though..." she trailed off, glancing at the scientist beside her. "Lots of running ground."

"Done!" Tony snapped his fingers. "One remote, big forested, island-ed, lots-of-running-ground house coming right up." He paused and looked between the two. "I assume you want high, presumably 12-foot ceilings?"

Natasha nodded. "Where's this party?" she sighed, grabbing a pen and paper. "And dress code?"

-

Nat turned in a circle, frowning at herself in the mirror. "This doesn't feel right," she complained.

Maria sat on her bed, sipping a glass of wine. "You look fine," her friend said. "And I made sure you can still kick ass without flashing anyone. Now put on the necklace."

Natasha sighed as she slipped the delicate gold chain around her neck. It was a gift from Bruce, a necklace with a green pendant hanging. It brought out her eyes, the scientist had said.

"Phone?" Maria called as Nat went into the bathroom.

"Got it."

"Purse?"

"Check."

"Gun?"

Natasha poked her head out of the bathroom. "No firearms," she sighed. She perked up. "I'm bringing knives. Five throwing ones and a dagger."

Maria rolled her eyes. "Is that why you wanted the–"

"Yeah." Nat walked out of the bathroom via the walk-in closet holding two pairs of shoes. "Stilettos or platform?"

Her friend glanced between the two. "Stilettos for extra weapons, platforms for better balance."

"Stilettos it is." Natasha pulled on her shoes, grabbed her purse, her jacket, her phone, her keys, and turned to Maria. "Call if anything happens. God knows I need a reason to skip out on this stupid party," she muttered.

Natasha met Tony at the elevator.

"You look nice," he said.

"Thanks," she sighed. "You clean up well. You don't look like you were wasted this morning at all."

"Brucie helped."

The scientist in question came rushing down the hall and stopped in front of Nat. "Hey," he panted. "Good. I caught you."

"Are you okay, doc?" Natasha asked amusedly. "You need to breathe? I'm happy to be late to this party."

Bruce waved her off. "I'm fine." He straightened. "Just wanted to say goodbye."

Nat put a hand on her chest in jest. "Will I ever see you again?" she said.

The scientist chuckled. "Hopefully." He glanced at his watch. "If you stall any longer, you will actually be late. So you two should get going. But hey, text if you need anything," Bruce said. He smiled and let them get into the elevator and waved as the doors closed.

Natasha and Tony got into the car.

"Is it okay if we got cheeseburgers on the way?" the billionaire asked Happy. "Please?"

"There's food at the party," the man said.

"But I want cheeseburgers!"

They got cheeseburgers.

Natasha slipped her phone out of her purse and sent a text to Bruce.

Tasha: It's been seven and a half minutes since we left and we are getting cheeseburgers.

Bruce answered fairly quickly.

Bruce: That sounds fun

Bruce: Wait for it. Tony's going to spill ketchup on himself

"Aw, geez!"

Nat glanced to her right and sighed.

Tasha: You were right

Tasha: Not five seconds later

Bruce: I don't know how to feel about my knowing Tony this well

Natasha smiled.

Tasha: Call it long-term babysitting

Bruce: That's funny

Bruce: I'll tell Pepper later she'll appreciate this

Tasha: Have you seen her?

Bruce: She stopped in after you left

Nat rolled her eyes.

Tasha: Of course

After a few more minutes of back-and-forth texting, Natasha looked up when Happy knocked on the divider.

"We're here," the man called. "Prepare to get off in a minute."

Natasha sighed and typed out her last message.

Tasha: Banner, get me out of here

Bruce: Have fun

Tasha: I'm serious

Bruce: Good luck

Tasha: When I get back, I'm going to kill you

Bruce: Get in line

Nat scoffed.

Tasha: Fine

Tasha: I look forward to my vengeance

Bruce: I look forward to feeling your vengeance

Natasha huffed an annoyed laugh and got out of the car into what she later called the worst party of her life.

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