Special Touch Part: Two

Chapter Eighteen

"No."

"Get out of my way, that's my-"

"She's nothing of yours," Natasha spat, clenching the pistol in her hand as she held it down at her side, "She's not your friend and she's definitely not your agent."

"I see you let Thor and his brother through, but somehow the director of SHIELD isn't allowed to get an update on her progress?" He scoffed, shaking his head, "You must be outta your damn mind."

"They're her friends," She shrugged, raising the gun with narrowed eyes when he took a step forward, "And you're anything but that to either of us."
"Natasha."

"Skrull." She growled back and he raised his eyebrows.

She pursed her lips and tilted her head slightly before he rolled his eyes with a sigh, turning into just what she accused him of being.

"Okay, okay, you got me."

"Her too." She pointed the gun over to where Maria stood close behind.

"No, she's legit." The skrull insisted and Natasha cocked her gun, aiming for his heart.

"Wanna test that theory?" She challenged and the skrull posing as Maria sighed before turning green, so Natasha mumbled with a hint of amusement in her voice, "I can't believe she was right."

"Who?" He asked, having picked up on it.

"She tagged you as a skrull forever ago and this is just...too good."

"Yeah, it is." Tony came up from behind and Happy, along with some other Stark security, started to arrest the skrulls.

"So, where're Fury and Maria?" She couldn't help but to ask.

"Not even in the country, according to FRIDAY," Tony shook his head in disbelief, "They've been in Prague dealing with something else this whole time."
"So, interrogate them," She nodded as they both turned back to watch Wanda Maximoff and Stephen Strange poke at you with their magic, "But then I want to kill them."

"Have they done more than you told me?"

"Yeah, they set everything up," She crossed her arms, keeping her eyes on you through the windows, "From her kidnappings to digging up her family crap with those people in the cabin to Logan...all of it."

"It must've been easy with how they've literally been running SHIELD," He sighed and then furrowed his eyebrows, "But how'd Batman and Robin miss all this? Just because they're out of the country?"

"I think they sent them with different intentions."

Cory and Valerie stayed close by, but nobody else was aloud in the room with you as Strange and Maximoff worked. For a while, they sat across in a small almost waiting-like area from Thor and Loki, but that got insanely uncomfortable, so they decided to joined Bucky, Steve, and Sam downstairs in the kitchen.

"So, is this just a normal occurrence for her?" Valerie was asking the trio, but you always shared more with Cory, so they just didn't say anything, and it wasn't to be mean, you guys were just closer, "To hang out with the avengers? Because she hardly mentions it whenever we all hang out."

"She doesn't like us," Sam smirked, shaking his head in amusement, "But deep down she loves us like her family, that just bothers her."

"Because she's been focused on hating everything we stand for for so long." Steve added with a nod, chuckling.

"That's true." Cory smiled, tears pricking at their eyes when the thought of never hearing your angry rants about them again came to mind.

"Hey, you okay?" Valerie asked softly, turning to face them, and putting a hand on their shoulder.

"Yeah," They sniffled, nodding, and then clearing their throat, "Just want her back."

"We all do." Bucky admittedly sadly with a frown.

Cory got up, their chair scraping behind them, and everyone looked up, some stopping midchew, before they abruptly left. Valerie stopped the trio from following or asking where they were going, because she knew that look meant they needed a moment to themselves.

Cory had gone to the bathroom to cry for a few minutes, drying their eyes and splashing their face with some cold water before leaving. Then they hurriedly made their way back to the med bay to resume standing in front of the window. Because there was no way in hell they'd leave your side, no matter how painful it was, until you woke up.

The two of you had been through just about everything together.

First crushes, heartbreaks, new jobs, coming outs, trauma, school, and the discovery of your powers. They weren't the first person you told, but they were someone you still leaned on after, feeling a little overwhelmed, and knowing they wouldn't judge or ask or push you on anything if you weren't ready. They were there when you got Ollie, loving that you didn't just get a puppy – nothing wrong with doing that though, but having adopted an older dog just felt more your speed with how you always wanted to give others a better life, even if yours wasn't perfect.

They were there when you lost your entire family and you were there when they lost countless of friends when they first came out as both nonbinary and asexual – one usually bothered people a little too much, and you were more than willing to give up some longtime friends if they did or said something that hurt or offended Cory.

They bailed you out of jail a few times and one of those was because of something an old friend had said, provoking you to full on kick their ass into the next generation for it.

You loved each other unconditionally and your friendship was a bond that went beyond the average.

Platonic soulmates.

So, to see you lying in that room, looking so small and helpless as your body gave off a soft golden glow, making you appear almost angelic, was just about enough to send them spiraling into a pit of darkness. Because you were their other half, their family, and someone they couldn't see themselves living without.

It's why they both appreciated Natasha while also resenting her at the same time.

They knew the assassin meant so much to you, this past year has definitely proven that, but ever since you met her and the avengers, it's only brought you trouble and pain.

But as they glanced over at the distressed assassin standing about ten feet away, they found themselves strolling nearer and putting a gentle hand on the redhead's shoulder to offer some comfort.

Because even though she unintentionally brought some trouble with her, she clearly cared deeply for you and would give anything for you to be happy, and honestly, Cory didn't trust another living soul to take care of you more than they did Natasha.

"She'll be okay...right?" Cory had meant to be reassuring, but the last part crept out in a squeak, making the assassin peel her eyes from you to look at your best friend.

"She's the strongest person I know," Natasha smiled, her eyes showing how desperate she truly was for you to be okay, "And with all the crap she's been through, this is a walk in the park."
"Yeah, you're right," Cory nodded, trying to mostly convince themselves, "She's gonna-"

They cut themselves off when they caught out of the corner of their eye, Wanda and Strange backing away and slamming a cryptic, ancient book closed, appearing as if they were waiting for something.

And then you sat up just slightly, blinking rapidly as if you were trying to adjust to seeing again, and then coughing before a doctor came running in to remove the tube.

"Strongest person I know." Natasha repeated before quickly leaving Cory's side to go to you.