Final Lap - Sambucky AU

107

The world was shocked with Natasha's behavior. The nickname Grim Reaper was spreading like wild fire, among other worse names.

Natasha didn't mind it though. It was all fuel. She had turned down two interviews already. She felt so liberated in a way.

The morning after all of her friends decided to literally appear at her house, she woke up with Mina passed out in her chair, and Kylo asleep against Anthony.

Natasha sat up slightly. Her hair was a bit messy, but she loved the short length now. She noticed Clara wasn't in the room at all.

She sighed, looked around and then headed out to the living room. She noticed Darlene was sleeping, and her parents were passed out, SO! She took it upon herself to make everyone breakfast.

The moment she touched the pan, it was a disaster. Somehow she dropped two eggs, accidentally burned water? And gave up.

She was about to give up when Mina came into view. "Geez man..." Mina said walking over, and stepping on a eggshell.

"Yea... I'm not good at the cooking skill just yet." Natasha said. Mina looked at her with a you think look.

"Um... I'll cook." Mina said with a reassuring smile as she cleaned up. "Do you want my help?" Natasha said. Mina simply looked at her and chuckled and shook her head no.

"Nope! This is my kitchen now." Natasha was about to protest but was pushed out of the kitchen.

Natasha decided to go down to the hotel gym instead. She walked into her room, grabbed some over her exercising clothes, and got changed.

She pulled a sports bra on, leggings, her sneakers and a jacket just in case. She pulled a mask on as she went down to the gym.

Somehow paparazzi was there waiting for her. They snapped pictures and shouted questions at her, but she ignored them all. She walked into the gym and took her mask off as she started to stretch.

She saw one other person in the gym. She noticed the person stand up and saw long blonde hair.

Clara had decided to come to the gym the day before and brought clothes with her. Natasha slightly stared but then just went back to what she was doing.

Clara glanced over in her direction and saw her. "There's my favorite Red Bull driver." Clara said as she walked over to her, taking out her earbuds.

Natasha chuckled as she went over to the weights. "Morning Clara. How long have you been here?"

"About a hour and a half." She said as she looked Natasha up and down as she sat down on a bench.

Natasha noticed but didn't say anything. "Clara, are you dating someone?" She asked as Clara took a sip of water.

She paused and looked at Natasha. "Why do you ask?"

"A girl like you who is tall, pretty, successful, has titles, blonde, successful parents, money, a personality, and British, shouldn't be on the market." Natasha said as she did bicep curls.

Clara watched her and chuckled. "You'd be surprised. I've had plenty of proposals, but everyone of them wants me to change something about me." She said as she thought.

Natasha couldn't understand why anyone would change a thing about her. "Well... I think you're perfect. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." Natasha said as she put the weights down.

Clara looked at her surprised by the comment. Clara honestly struggled with everything Natasha said was perfect about her. Especially the parent part, and the blonde part.

She remembered when someone had screamed at her that her father was a murderer and she was just like him. That was a rough day.

But she got past it.

But she still struggled with her height, but hearing the coolest woman on the track tell her she was perfect almost made her believe it.

Clara smiled softly to herself. "I won't let them tell me otherwise. Thank you Natasha."

"No problem."

The two stayed down there for an hour before starting to head up together. As they walked by the paparazzi, Natasha heard people screaming insults, rude questions, and just horrible things to her.

She just took her mask off and smiled. She waved to them as Clara walked behind her. She wouldn't never ever let them see her sweat. Natasha enjoyed antagonizing them like them. Showing them that their threats didn't hurt her.

Natasha doing this didn't only benefit herself, it benefitted those who watched. Those who needed to know that it was okay to resist.

Those who needed to know it was okay to do what you wanted.

Clara watched her in shock. But she sensed an exhaustion behind that wave and smile. It just was the energy of a woman who felt the words, a woman who was getting beat down, but didn't want to show it ever again.

Clara caught up to her and wrapped and arm around her shoulders and smiled as she talked to Natasha.

Clara wanted to help her shoulder some of this. Ever since seeing Natasha have a panic attack, she swore to never let her get to that point. Clara knew that those vulgar and just down right sour words would hurt even the strongest person.

The duo got back up to the room with breakfast ready. Mina was passing out plates. "There two are!" She said as Bucky was making tea in his little corner of the tiny kitchen.

She handed the two plates of food. Mina looked at Bucky. "Mr. Barnes, so you want toast?"

Bucky looked at her, with an annoyed look. "Mina.... It's Bucky. Just call me Bucky... at worst call me James. No one calls me Mr. Barnes..."

She chuckled nervously and scratched the back of her head. "Ahhh sorry. I forgot." She said with an innocent smile. Bucky just sighed and looked at his tea.

"And yes... I would like toast." He said as he grabbed his cup and sipped on his tea. He made his way to the living room and sighed as he looked at Sam.

"Why are there so many kids here..."