BLACK & RED | NATASHA ROMANOFF X READER | MARVEL

7

The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting soft rays of light across the room. I awoke slowly, the events of the previous night flooding back into my mind as I stretched and rubbed my eyes. The kiss with Natasha, the conversation afterward—it all felt like a surreal dream, yet the lingering warmth on my lips told me it had been very real.

I groaned as I sat up, my head pounding from the drinks we had all indulged in during the after-party. The remnants of a hangover were making themselves known, and I knew I wasn't the only one feeling the effects. I got out of bed, the coolness of the floor grounding me in the present. Today was a new day, and thank goodness for that.

I dressed quickly, opting for my usual gear, and made my way to the kitchen for some much-needed coffee. The compound was already buzzing with activity, but at a more subdued pace. I could hear groans and the occasional sound of equipment clanking from the training rooms. As I entered the kitchen, I saw Tony Stark sitting at the counter, his sunglasses on, nursing a cup of coffee and looking worse for wear.

"Morning," Tony greeted without looking up, his voice unusually low.

"Hey," I replied, pouring myself a cup of coffee. The aroma was comforting, a small piece of normalcy amidst the whirlwind of emotions and the throbbing in my head.

Stark glanced up, his eyes peering over the rim of his sunglasses. "Rough night, huh? Everyone's looking like they got hit by a truck."

I chuckled softly, wincing at the sound. "Yeah, it was quite the party. How are you holding up?"

Tony waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, you know me. I've had worse. Just need a little caffeine to kickstart the day."

As I took a sip of my coffee, Bruce and Natasha shuffled in, looking equally exhausted. "Morning," he mumbled, heading straight for the coffee pot.

Natasha grabbed herself her own cup with a tea bag in it. I suppose she isn't much for the coffee taste, as the avengers tea is laced with caffeine. Despite the fatigue etched on her face, she carried herself with the same grace and strength that always seemed to surround her. Her eyes met mine, and a small smile tugged at her lips.

"Morning," Tony said, then stoped his sentence to think for a moment.

"Wait... did you..?" he points at the both of them.

"What? No!" Natasha turns around to defend, sharing a knowing look with me, "Gross. I met him in the elevator and we came down together."

"Gross is a bit harsh.." Bruce mumbled under his breath. He then poured himself a cup of coffee, leaning against the counter, sighing. "Next time we decide to have an after-party, remind me to skip the drinking games."

I smiled sympathetically. "I think we all learned that lesson the hard way."

"Ha, ha!" Thor came into the kitchen, looking cheerful and awake, "not me!" He chuckled. 'Morning, everyone."

"Goodness, Thor, how are you so spirited right now?" Natasha grumbled.

"You sure survived the night, I see." Thor disregarded her question and a smile crossed his face once again.

Natasha rolled her eyes playfully. "Barely. I think we all need to reconsider our alcohol tolerance levels."

I chuckled, feeling a bit more at ease with her presence. "Agreed."

"Not all of us." Thor shrugged and put two shots of whiskey in his big YETI already filled with coffee.

Okay. This man is officially crazy.

"Any plans for the day?" Tony asked, breaking the silence.

"Training," Natasha said simply, her eyes locking with mine. "Need to work off last night's indulgences."

I nodded, understanding her unspoken invitation. "Yeah, training sounds good."

Bruce groaned. "You two are machines. I'm sticking to light duties today."

Tony raised his coffee cup in agreement. "Seconded."

Natasha and I shared a small smile, and I felt a flicker of relief. Whatever tension had lingered from the previous night seemed to be easing into something more comfortable.

So, we finished our drinks in relative silence.

As we headed to the training room, Natasha fell into step beside me. "Feeling okay?" she asked, her voice low.

"Yeah," I replied, the pounding in my head already starting to fade. "I mean, apart from the obvious."

She chuckled softly. "Good. Let's take it easy today. No need to push ourselves too hard." I nodded, grateful for her consideration.

As we entered the training room, the familiar rhythm of punches and kicks helped to center me.

She stretched and leaned over to the wall, placing one hand against it for balance. Her other arm reached overhead, pulling her torso into a gentle side stretch. I felt my gaze lingering a bit too long, caught by the elegance of her movements. The way her muscles flexed beneath her workout gear, the subtle curve of her form—it was mesmerizing.

She was gorgeous. Inside and out.

————————

After a particularly intense set, we paused to catch our breath. Natasha looked over at me. ""You're distracted," she observed, her voice cutting through my thoughts.

I met her gaze, my heart pounding for reasons beyond the workout. I blinked, composing myself, realizing I had slowed down. "Sorry, just... thinking."

She stepped closer, her eyes searching mine. "About last night?"

I hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah."

She nodded slowly, as if weighing my words. "Thinking is good. Just don't overthink it."

I smiled, playfully rolling my eyes, but I really did appreciate her straightforwardness. "Thanks, smart stuff."

Natasha chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Anytime, newbie."

"Ready to go again?" Natasha asked, her tone lightening.

"Absolutely," I replied, feeling more grounded.

———————-

When we finally wrapped up the training, we headed back to our rooms to freshen up. The exhaustion from the previous night and the intense workout was starting to take its toll.

After my shower, I felt more awake, the fog of the hangover lifting slightly. I headed back to the common area, where most of the team was gathered, looking equally refreshed and ready to face the day.

Tony was there, still nursing a cup of coffee but looking more lively. "How was training?" he asked, his tone casual but his eyes curious.

"Productive," I replied, glancing at Natasha, who was now talking with Steve about the upcoming mission. "Just what we needed."

Tony nodded, a knowing smile on his lips. "Good to hear, and I mean, thank goodness we have the day off from any missions or 'work"

"I hear that." I agree.

"I'm going to go find Pepper," he gets up, walking towards the kitchen running water in his cup, "stay hydrated." He mentioned.

I chucked and slipped into the couch next to Wanda, where she was watching Home Alone 2. An odd pick, but I adored her for it.

"What's the plan today, Wands?" I ask.

"You're looking at it." She took a bite from her green smoothie bowl, "care to join?"

"Why not?" She gave me some of her blanket and turned her laptop screen for the both of us to see.

Aww, Maximoff.

————————
I'm sorry I know this chapter was short! I just really wanted to get one out for you all as it's been a few days and I know I promised daily uploads.

Trust me it's going to get good soon!

#unedited