Whatever it Takes

Chapter 9

While the group was in the heilcarrier on the way to Africa, Natasha's mind was going a million miles an hour. The others didn't know what to expect and she knew that Wanda was an unstoppable force of nature. Given that the twins haven't seemed to realize what side Ultron was truly on, there was no chance of reasoning with either one of them.

Bruce was sitting next to Natasha, fiddling with his hands. He came along in case of a Code Green, but he looked like he would rather be anywhere else.

"Hey," she whispers to him. When he looked at her, she continued, "Until you hear the words 'Code Green,' don't come out of the quinjet."

"Okay," he said with a small nod.

"Even if you can't hear us, promise me you'll stay here until we get back."

"I promise."

Natasha knew she should be focusing on saving Pietro, but Bruce was her biggest priority right now. It didn't help that she knew the vision Wanda would show her and it was consuming her thoughts.

Maybe if Wanda didn't see Bruce he wouldn't hulk-out and have to face his biggest nightmare while destroying the nearby city.

___

2015 (Sacred Timeline)

"I saw him," Bruce said.

The two of them were at Clint's farmhouse and she made it clear that she wanted to run with him if he was leaving.

Her head snapped up and she asked, "Your father?"

He nodded and fiddled with his hands as he explained, "When Maxamoff messed with my head, it was like I was 8-years-old all over again. Running from him and just trying to hide. Then there was this pounding in my skull, and I was brought back to reality, but it was too late. Hulk was already taking over."

"Bruce..."

"You may not see a monster Nat, but I do."

"You're not him."

"What if one day I snap by accident? If I... if I hurt you, I won't be able to live with myself."

"You won't hurt me and neither will the Big Guy," she tried to reassure him. "Bruce, I know what it's like to be raised by someone like that. Dreykov was the same with every girl in the Red Room, but even more so with me. My only escape was to kill him and by doing that, I killed his daughter too."

He walked closer to her and hugged her to him. She let her arms wrap around his waist and her head bury itself in his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," he said. "You're not a monster, Nat."

"Neither are you."

She didn't let go of him and for once, she let herself be completely vulnerable around someone.

___

2015 (Branched Timeline)

Natasha's mind was jolted back to the present when the quinjet landed. As everyone left, she turned to Bruce and cupped his face with her hands.

"Please..."

"I'll stay right here, I promise," he reassured her, and she pressed her forehead to his for a few seconds.

Maybe it was too risky to do this, but she didn't want him to live the same nightmare that she was about to endure. Wanda forcing him to turn into the Hulk wasn't just a violation of his mind, it also used his childhood abuse and biggest fear against him.

Natasha knew Wanda would prove herself and earn the team's trust. The Avengers were made of people looking for second chances at life or making amends. The team would welcome Wanda and Pietro when they were ready to fight on the right side.